FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


BEES  IN  AMBER  A  LITTLE 
BOOK  OF  THOL>£HTFlJL JAN  3C 
VERSE  BY  JOHN  OXENHAM. 
PUBLISHED  BY  AMERICAN 
TRACT  SOCIETY  SEVEN 
WEST  FORTY  FIFTH  ST. 
NEW     YORK     MCMXVII 


Copyright   191 3 
By  AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY 


TO 

THOSE 

I  HOLD  DEAREST 

THIS 

OF  MY  BEST. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://archive.org/details/beesinamOOoxen 


Contexts 


PAGE 

Credo facing  9 

New  Year's  Day  and  Everyday 0 

Philosopher's  Garden 11 

Flowers  of  the  Dust 12 

The  Pilgrim  Way 13 

everymaid 14 

Better  and  Best 15 

The  Shadow 16 

The  Potter 17 

Nightfall 18 

The  Pruner 19 

The  Ways 19 

Seeds 20 

Whirring  Wheels 21 

The  Bells  of  Ys 22 

The  Little  Poem  of  Life 23 

Cup  of  Mixture 23 

Weavers  All 24 

The  Clearer  Vision 24 

Shadows 25 

The  Inn  of  Life 26 

Life's  Chequer-Board 28 

Cuoss-Roads 28 

Quo  Vadis? 29 

Tamate 30 

Burden -Bearers 31 

The  Iron  Flail 31 

Sark 32 

E.  A 33 

The  Passing  of  the  Queen 34 

The  Golden  Cord 35 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 36 

God's  Handwriting 37 

Stephen — Saul .38 

Pail 39 

Wakening 39 

Macedonia,  1903 40 

Hearts  in  Exile 41 

Wandered 42 

Bide  a  Wee! 44 

The  Word  that  was  left  unsaid       ....  45 

Don't  Worry! 46 

5 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

The  Golden  Rose 47 

Gadara,  A.D.  31 48 

The  Bells  of  Stephen  Iline 49 

Bolt  that  Door! 50 

Giant  Circumstance 50 

The  Hungry  Sea 51 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord 52 

The  Vail _    52 

No  East  or  West 53 

The  Day— The  Way 53 

Liberty,  Equality,  Fraternity 54 

Freemen 55 

The  Long  Road 56 

The  Christ ....  56 

The  Ballad  of  Lost  Souls 57 

Profit  and  Loss 65 

Free  Men  of  God 66 

Treasure- Trove 67 

The  Gate 68 

Bring  us  the  Light 73 

All's  Well! 74 

His  Mercy  endureth  for  ever 76 

God  is  Good 77 

Some — and  Some 78 

The  Prince  of  Life 79 

Judgment  Day 79 

Darkness  and  Light 80 

India 81 

Livingstone 82 

Livingstone  the  Builder 84 

Livingstone's  Soliloquy 85 

Kapiolani 87 

They  Come! 98 

Processionals 99 

Faith 103 

"I  Will!" 103 

A  Little  Te  Deum  of  the  Commonplace     .      .  104 

Policeman  X 113 

Your  Place 121 

In  Narrow  Ways 121 

Shut  Windows 122 

Props 122 

Bed-Rock 123 

After  Work 123 

Kapiolani  in  Rarotongan 124 


Author's  Apology 

In  these  rushful  days  an  apology  is  advisable,  if 
not  absolutely  essential,  from  any  man,  save  the  one 
or  two  elect,  who  has  the  temerity  to  publish  a 
volume  of  verse. 

These  stray  lines,  such  as  they  are,  have  come 
to  me  from  time  to  time,  1  hardly  know  how  or 
whence;  certainly  not  of  deliberate  intention  or  of 
malice  aforethought.  More  often  than  not  they  have 
come  to  the  interruption  of  other,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
more  important — and  undoubtedly  more  profitable — 
work. 

They  are  for  the  most  part,  simply  attempts  at 
concrete  and  rememberable  expression  of  ideas — 
ages  old  most  of  them —  which  "asked  for  more." 

Most  writers,  I  imagine,  find  themselves  at  times 
in  that  same  predicament — worried  by  some  thought 
which  dances  within  them  and  stubbornly  refuses 
to  be  satisfied  with  the  sober  dress  of  prose.  For 
their  own  satisfaction  and  relief,  in  such  a  case,  if 
they  be  not  fools  they  endeavour  to  garb  it  more  to 
its  liking,  and  so  find  peace.  Or,  to  vary  the  meta- 
phor, they  pluck  the  Bee  out  of  their  Bonnet  and 
pop  it  into  such  amber  as  they  happen  to  have  about 
them  or  are  able  to  evolve,  and  so  put  an  end  to  its 
buzzing. 

In  their  previous  states  these  little  Bonnet-Bees 
of  mine  have  apparently  given  pleasure  to  quite  a 
number  of  intelligent  and  thoughtful  folk ;  and 
now — chiefly,  I  am  bound  to  say.  for  my  own  satis- 
faction in  seeing  them  all  together — I  have  gathered 
them  into  one  bunch. 

If  they  please  you — good!  If  not,  there  is  no 
harm  done,  and  one  man  is  content. 

JOHN  OXENHAM 


Credo 

Not  what,  but  WHOM,  I  do  believe, 
That,  in  my  darkest  hour  of  need, 
Hath  comfort  that  no  mortal  creed 
To  mortal  man  may  give;— 

Not  what,  but  WHOM  ! 

For  Christ  is  more  than  all  the  creeds, 
And  His  full  life  of  gentle  deeds 
Shall  all  the  creeds  outlive. 

Not  what  I  do  believe,  but  WHOM ! 

WHO  walks  beside  me  in  the  gloom? 
WHO  shares  the  burden  wearisome? 
WHO  all  the  dim  way  doth  illume, 
And  bids  me  look  beyond  the  tomb 
The  larger  life  to  live?— 

Not  what  I  do  believe, 

BUT  WHOM! 

Not  what, 

But  WHOM! 


BEES  IN  AMBER 


New  Year's  Day — and  Every  Day 

Each  man  is  Captain  of  his  Soul, 
And  each  man  his  own  Creiv, 
But  the  Pilot  knows  the  Unknown  Seas, 
And  He  will  bring  us  through. 

We  break  new  seas  to-day,— 
Our  eager  keels  quest  unaccustomed  waters, 
And,  from  the  vast  uncharted  waste  in  front, 
The  mystic  circles  leap 

To    greet    our    prows    with    mightiest    possi- 
bilities; 
Bringing  us— what? 

—  Dread  shoals  and  shifting  banks? 

—  And  calms  and  storms  ? 

—  And  clouds  and  biting  gales  ? 

—  And  wreck  and  loss  ? 

—  And  valiant  fighting-times? 

And,    maybe,    Death!— and    so,    the    Larger 
Life! 

9 


10  BEES  IN  AMBER 

For  should  the  Pilot  deem  it  best 
To  cut  the  voyage  short, 
He  sees  beyond  the  sky-line,  and 
He'll  bring  us  into  Port. 

And,  maybe,  Life,  — Life  on  a  bounding  tide, 
And  chance  of  glorious  deeds;  — 
Of  help  swift-born  to  drowning  mariners; 
Of  cheer  to  ships  dismasted  in  the  gale ; 
Of  succours  given  unasked  and  joyfully; 
Of  mighty  service  to  all  needy  souls. 

So— Ho  for  the  Pilot's  orders, 
Whatever  course  He  makes! 
For  He  sees  beyond  the  sky-line, 
And  He  never  makes  mistakes. 

And,  maybe,  Golden  Days, 

Full  freighted  with  delight ! 

—And  wide  free  seas  of  unimagined  bliss, 

—And  Treasure  Isles,  and  Kingdoms  to 

be  won, 
—And  Undiscovered  Countries,  and  New 

Kin. 


For  each  man  captains  his  own  Soul, 
And  chooses  his  own  Crew, 
But  the  Pilot  knows  the  Unknown  Seas, 
And  He  will  bring  us  through. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  ll 


Philosopher's  Garden 

"See  this  my  garden, 
Large  and  fair!" 
—  Thus,  to  his  friend, 
The  Philosopher. 

u  'Tis  not  too  long," 
His  friend  replied, 
With  truth  exact,— 
"Nor  yet  too  wide. 
But  well  compact, 
If  somewhat  cramped 
On  every  side" 

Quick  the  reply— 

"Bat  see  how  highl- 
it reaches  up 
To  God's  Hue  sky!" 

Not  by  their  size 
Measure  we  men 
Or  things. 
Wisdom,  with  eyes 
Washed  in  the  fire, 
Seeketh  the  things 
That  are  higher- 
Things  that  have  wings, 
Thoughts  that  aspire. 


12  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Flowers  of  the  Dust 

The  Mills  of  God  grind  slowly,  but  they  grind 

exceeding  small  — 
So  soft  and  slow  the  great  wheels  go  they 

scarcely  move  at  all ; 
But  the  souls  of  men  fall  into  them  and  are 

powdered  into  dust, 
And  in  that  dust  grow  the  Passion-Flowers 

—  Love,  Hope,  Trust. 


Most  wondrous  their  upspringing,  in  the  dust 

of  the  Grinding-Mills, 
And  rare  beyond  the  telling  the  fragrance 

each  distils. 
Some  grow  up  tall  and  stately,  and  some  grow 

sweet  and  small, 
But  Life  out  of  Death  is  in  each  one  — with 

purpose  grow  they  all. 


For  that  dust  is  God's  own  garden,  and  the 
Lord  Christ  tends  it  fair, 

With  oh,  such  loving  tenderness!  and  oh, 
such  patient  care ! 

In  sorrow  the  seeds  are  planted,  they  are 
watered  with  bitter  tears, 

But  their  roots  strike  down  to  the  Water- 
Springs  and  the  Sources  of  the  Years. 


BEES  IX  AMBER  13 

These   flowers    of    Christ's   own    providence, 

they  wither  not  nor  die, 
But  flourish  fair,  and  fairer  still,  through  all 

eternity. 
In  the  Dust  of  the  Mills  and  in  travail  the 

amaranth  seeds  are  sown, 
But  the  Flowers  in  their  full  beauty  climb 

the  Pillars  of  the  Throne. 

Note. — The    first    line   only    is   adapted    from    the 
Sinngedichte  of  Friedrich  von  Logau. 


The  Pilgrim  Way 

But  once  I  pass  this  way, 

And  then— no  more. 

But  once— and  then,  the  Silent  Door 

Swings  on  its  hinges,— 

Opens  .    .    .   closes,— 

And  no  more 

I  pass  this  way. 

So  while  I  may, 

AVith  all  my  might, 

1  will  essay 

Sweet  comfort  and  delight, 

To  all  I  meet  upon  the  Pilgrim  Way. 

For  no  man  travels  twice 

The  Great  Highway, 

That  climbs  through  Darkness  up  to  Light,  - 

Through  Night 

To  Day. 


14                    BEES  IN  AMBER 

Everym/id 

King's  Daughter! 

\  ■ 

Wouldst  thou  be  all  fair, 

Without— within— 

"* 

Peerless  and  beautiful, 

A  very  Queen? 

i 

Know  then:— 

Not  as  men  build  unto  the  Silent  One,— 

With  clang  and  clamour, 

Traffic  of  rude  voices, 

Clink  of  steel  on  stone, 

And  din  of  hammer;  — 

Not  so  the  temple  of  thy  grace  is  reareu 

But,— in  the  inmost  shrine 

Must  thou  begin, 

And  build  with  care 

A  Holy  Place, 

A  place  unseen, 

Each  stone  a  prayer. 

Then,  having  built, 

Thy  shrine  sweep  bare 

Of  self  and  sin, 

And  all  that  might  demean; 

And,  with  endeavour, 

Watching  ever,  praying  ever, 

Keep  it  fragrant-sweet,  and  clean: 

So,  by  God's  grace,  it  be  fit  place,— 

His  Christ  shall  enter  and  shall  dwell  therein. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  15 

Not  as  in  earthly  fane— where  chase 
Of  steel  on  stone  ma.    strive  to  win 

**e  outward  gracef— 
l       temple  face  is  chiselled  from  within. 

Better  and  Best 

Better  in  bitterest  agony  to  lie, 

Before  Thy  throne, 

Than  through  much  increase  to  be  lifted  up 

on  high, 
And  stand  alone. 

Better  by  one  sweet  soul,  constant  and  true, 

To  be  beloved, 

Than  all  the  kingdoms  of  delight  to  trample 

through, 
Unloved,  unloved. 

Yet  best— the  need  that  broke  me   at  Thy 

feet, 
In  voiceless  prayer, 
And    cast   my    chastened    heart,    a    sacrifice 

complete, 
Upon  Thy  care. 

For  all  the   world  is  nought,  and  less  than 

nought, 
Compared  with  this, — 
That  my  dear  Lord,  with  His  own  life,  my 

ransom  bought, 
And  I  am  His. 


16  BEES  IN  AMBER 

The  Shadow 

Shapeless  and  grim, 

A  Shadow  dim 

O'erhung  the  ways, 

And  darkened  all  my  days. 

And  all  who  saw, 

With  bated  breath, 

Said,  "It  is  Death !" 

And  I,  in  weakness 

Slipping  towards  the  Night, 

In  sore  affright 

Looked  up.    And  lo  !— 

No  Spectre  grim, 

But  just  a  dim 

Sweet  face, 

A  sweet  high  mother-face, 

A  face  like  Christ's  Own  Mother's  face, 

Alight  with  tenderness 

And  grace. 

;*Thou  art  not  Death!"  I  cried;— 

For  Life's  supremest  fantasy 

Had  never  thus  envisaged  Death  to  me  :  — 
4 'Thou  art  not  Death,  the  End!" 

In  accents  winning, 

Came  the  answer,— "  Frien d, 

There  is  no  Death! 

I  am  the  Beginning, 
-Not  the  End!" 


BEES  IN  AMBER  17 


The  Potter 

A  Potter,  playing  with  his  lump  of  clay, 
Fashioned  an  image  of  supremest  worth. 
' '  A  ever  was  nobler  image  made  on  earth, 
Than   this  that  I  have  fashioned  of  my 

clay. 
And  I,  of  mine  own  skill,  did  fashion  it,— 
I— from  this  lump  of  clay" 


The  Master,  looking  out  on  Pots  and  Men, 
Heard  his  vain  boasting,  smiled  at  that  he 

said. 

'The  clay  is  Mine,  and  I  the  Potter  made, 

As  I  made  all  things,— stars,  and  clay, 
and  men. 

In  what  doth  this  man  overpass  the  rest? 

—Be  thou  as  other  men!" 

He  touched  the  Image,  — and  it  fell  to  dust, 
He  touched  the  Potter,— he  to  dust  did  fall, 
Gently  the  Master,—"/  did  make  them 

all,— 
All  things  and  men,  heaven's  glories,  and 

the  dust. 
^Yho  with  Me  works  shall  quicken  death 

itself, 
Without  Me— dust  is  dust." 


18  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Nightfall 

Fold  up  the  tent! 

The  sun  is  in  the  West. 

To-morrow  my  untented  soul  will  range 

Among  the  blest. 

And  I  am  well  content, 
For  what  is  sent,  is  sent, 
And  God  knows  best. 

Fold  up  the  tent, 

And  speed  the  parting  guest! 

The  night  draws  on,  though  night  and  day 
are  one 

On  this  long  quest. 

This  house  was  only  lent 
For  my  apprenticement  — 
"What  is,  is  best. 

Fold  up  the  tent ! 

Its  slack  ropes  all  undone, 

Its  pole  all  broken,  and  its  cover  rent,— 

Its  work  is  done. 

But  mine— tho'  spoiled  and  spent 
Mine  earthly  tenement- 
Is  but  begun. 

Fold  up  the  tent! 

Its  tenant  would  be  gone, 

To  fairer  skies  than  mortal  eyes 

May  look  upon. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  1? 

All  that  I  loved  has  passed, 
And  left  me  at  the  last 
Alone!— alone! 

Fold  up  the  tent ! 

Above  the  mountain's  crest, 

I  hear  a  clear  voice  calling,  calling  clear,  - 

"To  rest!     To  rest!" 

And  I  am  glad  to  go, 

For  the  sweet  oil  is  low, 

And  rest  is  best! 


The  Pruner 

God  is  a  zealous  pruner, 

For  He  knows— 

Who,  falsely  tender,  spares  the  knife 

But  spoils  the  rose. 


The  Ways 

To  every  man  there  openeth 

A  Way,  and  Ways,  and  a  Way. 

And  the  High  Soul  climbs  the  High  way, 

And  the  Low  Soul  gropes  the  Low, 

And  in  between,  on  the  misty  flats, 

The  rest  drift  to  and  fro. 

But  to  every  man  there  openeth 

A  High  Way,  and  a  Low. 

And  every  man  decideth 

The  Way  his  soul  shall  go. 


20  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Seeds 

What  shall  we  be  like  when 

We  cast  this  earthly  body  and  attain 

To  immortality? 

What  shall  we  be  like  then  ? 

Ah,  who  shall  say 

What  vast  expansions  shall  be  ours  that  day  ? 
What  transformations  of  this  house  of  clay. 
To  fit  the  heavenly  mansions  and  the  light  of 

day? 
Ah,  who  shall  say? 

But  this  we  know,— 

We  drop  a  seed  into  the  ground, 

A  tiny,  shapeless  thing,  shrivelled  and  dry, 

And,  in  the  fulness  of  its  time,  is  seen 

A  form  of  peerless  beauty,  robed  and  crowned 

Beyond  the  pride  of  any  earthly  queen, 

Instinct  writh  loveliness,  and  sweet  and  rare, 

The  perfect  emblem  of  its  Maker's  care. 

This  from  a  shrivelled  seed?— 
—  Then  may  man  hope  indeed  ! 

For  man  is  but  the  seed  of  what  he  shall  be. 

When,  in  the  fulness  of  his  perfecting, 

He  drops  the  husk  and  cleaves  his  upward 

way, 
Through  earth's  retardings  and  the  clinging 

clay, 


BEES  IN  AMBER  81 

Into  the  sunshine  of  God's  perfect  day. 
No  fetters  then  !    No  bonds  of  time  or  space  ! 
But  powers  as  ample  as  the  boundless  grace 
That  suffered  man,   and  death,   and  yet,   in 

tenderness, 
Set    wide    the    door,     and    passed    Himself 

before— 
As  He  had  promised— to  prepare  a  place. 

Yea,  we  may  hope ! 
For  we  are  seeds, 

Dropped  into  earth  for  heavenly  blossoming. 
Perchance,  when  comes  the  time  of  harvest- 
ing, 
His  loving  care 
May  find  some  use  for  even  a  humble  tare. 

We  know  not  what  we  shall  be— only  this — 
That  we  shall  be  made  like  Him— as  He  is. 

Whirring  Wheels 

Lord,  when  on  my  bed  I  lie, 
Sleepless,  unto  Thee  I'll  cry; 
When  my  brain  works  overmuch, 
Stay  the  wheels  with  Thy  soft  touch. 

Just  a  quiet  thought  of  Thee, 
And  of  Thy  sweet  charity, — 
Just  a  little  prayer,  and  then 
I  will  turn  to  sleep  again. 


22  BEES  IN  AMBER 

The  Bells  of  Ys 

When  the  Bells  of  Ys  rang  softly,— softly, 

Soft— and  sweet— and  low, 
Not  a  sound  was  heard  in  the  old  gray  town, 
As  the  silvery  tones  came  floating  down, 
But  life  stood  still  with  uncovered  head, 
And  doers  of  ill  did  good  instead, 
And  abroad  the  Peace  of  God  was  shed, 

When  the  bells  aloft  sang  softly— softly, 

Soft— and  sweet— and  low,— 
The  Silver  Bells  and  the  Golden  Bells,— 

Aloft,  and  aloft,  and  alow. 

And  still  those  Bells  ring  softly— softly, 

Soft— and  sweet— and  low. 
Though  full  twelve  hundred  years  have  gone, 
Since  the  waves  rolled  over  the  old  gray  town, 
Bold  men  of  the  sea,  in  the  grip  of  the  flow, 
Still  hear  the  Bells,  as  they  pass  and  go, 
Or  win  to  life  with  their  hearts  aglow, 

When  the  Bells  below  sing  softly—softly, 

Soft— and  sweet— and  low,— 
The  Silver  Bells  and  the  Golden  Bells,— 

Alow,  and  alow,  and  alow. 

0  the  Mystical  Bells,  they  still  ring  softly, 

Soft— and  sweet— and  low,— 
For  the  sound  of  their  singing  shall  never  die 
In  the  hearts  that  are  tuned  to  their  melody ; 
And  down  in  the  world 's  wild  rush  and  roar, 
That  sweeps  us  along  to  the  Opening  Door, 


BEES  IN  AMBER  23 

Hearts  still  beat  high  as  they  beat  of  yore, 
When    the    Bells    sing    softly— softly- 
softly, 
Soft— and  sweet— and  low, 
The  Silver  Bells  and  the  Golden  Bells,— 
Alow,  and  aloft,  and  alow. 


The  Little  Poem  of  Life 

I;- 

Thou;— 

We;- 

They;- 
Small  words,  but  mighty. 
In  their  span 
Are  bound  the  life  and  hopes  of  man. 

For, first, his  thoughts  of  his  own  self  are  full ; 

Until  another  comes  his  heart  to  rule. 

For  them,  life's  best  is  centred  round  their 

love ; 
Till  younger  lives  come  all  their  love  to  prove. 


Cup  of  Mixture 

For  every  Guest  who  comes  with  him  to  sup, 
The    Host   compounds    a   strangely    mingled 

cup;- 
Red  Wine  of  Life  and  Dregs  of  Bitterness, 
And,  will-he,  nil-he,  each  must  drink  it  up. 


24 


BEES  IN  AMBER 


Weavers  All 


Warp  and  Woof  and  Tangle,  - 

Weavers  of  Webs  are  we. 
Living  and  dying-and  mightier  dead, 
For  the  shuttle,  once  sped,  is  sped-*  sped  ;- 
Weavers  of  Webs  are  we. 

White,  and  Black,  and  Hodden-gray,- 

Weavers  of  Webs  are  we. 
To  every  weaver  one  golden  strand 
Is  given  in  trust  by  the  Master-Hand  ;- 
Weavers  of  Webs  are  we. 

And  that  we  weave,  we  know  not,- 

Weavers  of  Webs  are  we. 
The  threads  we  see,  but  the  pattern  is  known 
To  the  Master-Weaver  alone,  alone  ;- 
Weavers  of  Webs  are  we. 

The  Clearer  Vision 

When,  with  bowed  head, 

And  silent-streaming  tears, 

With  mingled  hopes  and  fears, 

To  earth  we  yield  our  dead ; 

The  Saints,  with  clearer  sight, 

Do  cry  in  glad  accord, - 

"  A  soul  released  from  prison 

Is  risen,  is  risen,—  - -■■-  ff 

Is  risen  to  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  25 

Shadows 

Shadows  are  but  for  the  moment— 
Quickly  past; 

And  then  the  sun  the  brighter  shines 
That  it  was  overcast. 


For  Light  is  Life ! 

Gracious  and  sweet, 

The  fair  life-giving  sun  doth  scatter  blessings 

With  his  light  and  heat,— 

And  shadows. 

But  the  shadows  that  come  of  the  life-giving 

sun 
Crouch  at  his  feet. 


Xo  mortal  life  but  has  its  shadowed  times— 
Not  one ! 

Life  without  shadow  could  not  taste  the  full 
Sweet  glory  of  the  sun. 


Xo  shadow  falls,  but  there,  behind  it,  stands 

The  Light. 

Behind    the    wrongs    and    sorrows    of    life's 

troublous  ways 
Stands  Right. 


26  BEES  IN  AMBER 


The  Inn  of  Life 

As  It  was  in  the  Beginning,- 

Is  Now, — 

And     .     .     .     .     ? 

Anno  Domini  I. 


i  i  No  room ! 

No  room ! 
The  Inn  is  full, 
Yea— overfull. 
No  room  have  we 
For  such  as  ye— 
Poor  folk  of  Galilee, 

Pass  on!    Pass  on !" 

"Nay  then!— 

Your  charity 

Will  ne'er  deny 

Some  corner  mean, 

Where  she  may  lie  unseen. 

For  see!— 

Her  time  is  nigh." 

"Alack!    And  she 
So  young  and  fair ! 
Place  have  we  none; 
And  yet— how  bid  ye  gone? 
Stay  then!— out  there 
Among  the  beasts 
Ye  may  find  room, 


BEES  IN  AMBER  27 

And  eke  a  truss 
To  lie  upon.,, 

Anno  Domini  1913,  etc.,  etc. 


1 1  No  room ! 
No  room ! 
No  room  for  Thee, 
Thou  Man  of  Galilee ! 
The  house  is  full, 
Yea,  overfull. 

There  is  no  room  for  Thee,— 
Pass  on !    Pass  on ! 

Nay— see ! 
The  place  is  packed. 
We  scarce  have  room 
For  our  own  selves, 
So  how  shall  we 
Find  room  for  Thee, 
Thou  Man  of  Galilee,— 
Pass  on !    Pass  on ! 

But— if  Thou  shouldst 
This  way  again, 
And  we  can  find 
So  much  as  one  small  corner 
Free  from  guest, 
Not  then  in  vain 
Thy  quest. 
But  now— 
The  house  is  full. 
Pass  on!" 


28  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Christ  passes 

On  His  ceaseless  quest, 

Nor  will  He  rest 

With  any, 

Save  as  Chiefest  Guest. 


Life's  Chequer-Board 

"Tis  all  a  Chequer-Board  of  Nights  and  Days, 
Where  Detiny  with  men  for  pieces  plays, 
Hither  and  thither  moves,  and  mates  and  slays, 
And  one  by  one  back  in  the  Closet  lays." 

Omar  Khayyam. 

A    Chequer-Board    of    mingled    Light    and 

Shade? 
And  We  the  Pieces  on  it  deftly  laid  ? 
Moved  and  removed,  without  a  word  to  say, 
By  the  Same  Hand  that  Board  and  Pieces 

made? 

No  Pieces  we  in  any  Fateful  Game, 
Nor  free  to  shift  on  Destiny  the  blame ; 
Each  Soul  doth  tend  its  own  immortal  flame, 
Fans  it  to  Heaven,  or  smothers  it  in  shame. 


Cross-Roads 

Oft,  as  he  jogs  along  the  Winding-AATay, 
Occasion  comes  for  Every  Man  to  say,— 

' 'This  Road? or   That?"   and   as  he 

chooses  them, 
So  shall  his  journey  end  in  Night  or  Day. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  29 

Quo  Vadis? 

Peter,   outworn, 

And  menaced  by  the  sword, 

Shook  off  the  dust  of  Rome ; 

And,  as  he  fled, 

Met  one,  with  eager  face, 

Hastening  cityward, 

And,  to  his  vast  amaze, 

It  was  The  Lord. 

"Lord,   whither   goest    Thou?" 
He  cried,  importunate, 
And  Christ  replied,— 
"Peter,  I  suffer  loss. 
I  go  to  take  thy  place, 
To  bear  thy  cross." 

Then  Peter  bowed  his  head, 

Discomforted ; 

There,  at  the  Master's  feet, 

Found  grace  complete, 

And  courage,  and  new  faith, 

And  turned— with  Him, 

To  Death. 

So  we,— 

Whene'er  we  fail 

Of  our  full  duty, 

Cast  on  Him  our  load,— 

Who  suffered  sore  for  us, 
Who  frail  flesh  wore  for  us, 
Who  all  things  bore  for  us,— 

On  Christ,  The  Lord. 


30  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Tamate 

Great-Heart  is  dead,  they  say,— 
Great-Heart  the  Teacher, 
Great-Heart  the  Joyous, 
Great-Heart  the  Fearless, 
Great-Heart  the  Martyr, 
Great-Heart  of  Sweet  White  Fire. 

Great-Heart  is  dead,  they  say,— 

Fighting  the  fight, 

Holding  the  Light, 

Into  the  night. 
Great-Heart  is  dead,  they  say.— 

But  the  Light  shall  burn  the  brighter, 

And  the  night  shall  be  the  lighter, 

For  his  going; 

And  a  rich,  rich  harvest  for  his  sowing. 

Great-Heart  is  dead,  they  say!— 
What  is  death  to  such  an  one  as  Great-Heart  ? 
One  sigh,  perchance,  for  work  unfinished 

here;  — 
Then  a  swift  passing  to  a  mightier  sphere, 
New  joys,  perfected  powers,  the  vision 

clear, 
And  all  the  amplitude  of  heaven  to  work 
The  work  he  held  so  dear. 

Great-Heart  is  dead,  say  they? 

Nor  dead  nor  sleeping !  He  lives  on  !  His 

name 
Shall  kindle  many  a  heart  to  equal  flame. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  31 

The  fire  he  lighted  shall  burn  on  and  on, 
Till  all  the  darkness  of  the  lands  be  gone, 
And  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  be  won, 
And  one. 

A  soul  so  fiery  sweet  can  never  die, 
But  lives  and  loves  and  works   through   all 
eternity. 

Burden-Bearers 

Burden-bearers  are  we  all, 

Great  and  small. 

Burden-sharers  be  ye  all, 

Great  and  small ! 

Where  another  shares  the  load, 

Two  draw  nearer  God. 

Yet  there  are  burdens  we  can  share  with  none, 

Save  God; 

And  paths  remote  where  we  must  walk  alone, 

With  God; 

For  lonely  burden  and  for  path  apart  — 

Thank  God! 

If  these  but  serve  to  bring  the  burdened  heart 

To  God. 

The  Iron  Flail 

Time  beats  out  all  things  with  his  iron  flail, 

Things  great,  things  small. 

With  steady  strokes  that  never  fail, 

With  slow,  sure  strokes  of  his  iron  flail, 

Time  beats  out  all. 


32  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Sark 

Pearl  Iridescent !     Pearl  of  the  sea  ! 

Shimmering,  glimmering  Pearl  of  the  sea ! 
White  in  the  sun-flecked  Silver  Sea, 
White  in  the  moon-decked  Silver  Sea, 
White  in  the  wrath  of  the  Silver  Sea,— 

Pearl  of  the  Silver  Sea ! 

Lapped  in  the  smile  of  the  Silver  Sea, 
Ringed  in  the  foam  of  the  Silver  Sea, 
Glamoured  in  mists  of  the  Silver  Sea,— 

Pearl  of  the  Silver  Sea! 

Glancing  and  glimmering  under  the  sun, 
Jewel  and  casket  all  in  one, 
Joy  supreme  of  the  sun's  day  dream, 
Soft  in  the  gleam  of  the  golden  beam,— 

Pearl  of  the  Silver  Sea! 

Splendour  of  Hope  in  the  rising  sun, 
Glory  of  Love  in  the  noonday  sun, 
Wonder  of  Faith  in  the  setting  sun,— 

Pearl  of  the  Silver  Sea! 

Gaunt  and  grim  to  the  outer  world, 
Jewel  and  casket  all  impearled 
With  the  kiss  of  the  Silver  Sea!— 
With  the  flying  kiss  of  the  Silver  Sea, 
With  the  long  sweet  kiss  of  the  Silver  Sea, 
With  the  rainbow  kiss  of  the  Silver  Sea,— 
Pearl  of  the  Silver  Sea! 

And  oh  the  sight,— the  wonderful  sight, 
When  calm  and  white,  in  the  mystic  light 
Of   her    quivering    pathway,    broad    and 
bright, 


BEES  IN  AMBER  33 

The  Queen  of  the  Night,  in  silver  dight, 
Sails  over  the  Silver  Sea ! 

Wherever  I  go,  and  wherever  I  be, 

The  joy  and  the  longing  are  there  with  me,— 

The  gleam  and  the  glamour  come  back  to  me,— 

In  a  mystical  rapture  there  comes  to  me, 

The  call  of  the  Silver  Sea ! 

As  needle  to  pole  is  my  heart  to  thee, 

Pearl  of  the  Silver  Sea! 

E.  A.,  Nov.  6,  1900 

Bright  stars  of  Faith  and  Hope,  her  eyes 
Shall  shine  for  us  through  all  the  years. 
For  all  her  life  was  Love,  and  fears 

Touch  not  the  love  that  never  dies. 

And  Death  itself,  to  her,  was  but 
The  wider  opening  of  the  door 
That  had  been  opening,  more  and  more, 

Through  all  her  life,  and  ne'er  was  shut. 

—  And  never  shall  be  shut.     She  left 
The  door  ajar  for  you  and  me, 
And,  looking  after  her,  we  see 

The  glory  shining  through  the  cleft. 

And  when  our  own  time  comes,  — again 
AVe'll  meet  her  face  to  face;  — again 
Well  see  the  star-shine;   and  again 

She'll  greet  us  with  her  soft,  "Come  ben!M 


34  BEES  IN  AMBER 

The  Passing  of  the  Queen 

Hark!   The  drums!  Muffled  drums! 
The  long  low  ruffle  of  the  drums!— 
And  every  head  is  bowed, 
In  the  vast  expectant  crowd, 
As  the  Great  Queen  comes,— 

By  the  way  she  knew  so  well, 

Where  our  cheers  were  wont  to  swell, 

As  we  tried  in  vain  to  tell 

Of  our  love  unspeakable. 
Now  she  comes 
To  the  rolling  of  the  drums, 
And  the  slow  sad  tolling  of  the  bell. 
Let  every  head  be  bowed, 
In  the  silent  waiting  crowd, 
As  the  Great  Queen  comes, 
To  the  slow  sad  ruffle  of  the  drums! 

Who  is  this  that  comes, 

To  the  rolling  of  the  drums, 

In  the  sorrowful  great  silence  of  the  peoples? 
Take  heart  of  grace, 
She  is  not  here ! 
The  Great  Queen  is  not  here ! 

What  most  in  her  we  did  revere,— 

The  lofty  spirit,  white  and  clear, 

The  tender  love  that  knew  no  fear, 

The  soul  sincere,— 
These  come  not  here, 
To  the  rolling  of  the  drums, 
In  the  silence  and  the  sorrow  of  the  peoples. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  35 

Death  has  but  little  part 

In  her.     Love  cannot  die. 

Who  reigns  in  every  heart 

Hath  immortality. 
So,  though  our  heads  are  bent, 
Our  hearts  are  jubilant, 
As  she  comes,— 
As  a  conqueror  she  comes— 
With  the  rolling  of  the  drums, 
To  the  stateliest  of  her  homes, 
In  the  hearts  of  her  true  and  faithful  peoples. 

For  the  Great  Queen  lives  for  ever 

In  the  hearts  of  those  who  love  her. 

January,  1901. 

The  Golden  Cord 

Through  every  minute  of  this  day, 

Be  with  me,  Lord ! 
Through  every  day  of  all  this  week, 

Be  with  me,  Lord ! 
Through  every  week  of  all  this  year, 

Be  with  me,  Lord ! 
Through  all  the  years  of  all  this  life, 

Be  with  me,  Lord ! 
So  shall  the  days  and  weeks  and  years 
Be  threaded  on  a  golden  cord, 
And  all  draw  on  with  sweet  accord 
Unto  Thy  fulness,  Lord, 
That  so,  when  time  is  past, 
By  Grace,  I  may  at  last, 

Be  with  Thee,  Lord. 


36  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 
June,  1902 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 
Up  to  the  sombre  sky 
Rolled  one  great  thankful  sigh, 
Rolled  one  great  gladsome  cry— 
The  soul's  deliverance  of  a  mighty  people. 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 

The  long-low-hanging  war-cloud  rolled  away, 
And  night  glowed  brighter  than  the  brightest 

day. 
For  Peace  is  Light, 
And  War  is  grimmer  than  the  Night. 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 
Great  ocean,  was  your  mighty  calm  unstirred 
As  through  your  depths,  unseen,  unheard, 
Sped  on  its  way  the  glorious  word 
That  called  a  weary  nation  to  ungird, 
And  sheathed  once  more  the  keen,  reluctant 
swrord  ? 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 

The  word  came  to  us  as  we  knelt  in  prayer 

That  wars  might  cease. 

Peace  found  us  on  oui  knees,  and  prayer  for 
Peace 

Was  changed  to  prayer  of  deepest  thankful- 
ness. 

We  knelt  in  War,  we  rose  in  Peace  to  bless 

Thy  grace,   Thy  care,  Thy  tenderness. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  37 

Thank  God  for  Peace! 
No  matter  now  the  rights  and  wrongs  of  it; 
You  fought  us  bravely,  and  we  fought  you 

fair. 
The  fight  is  done.     Grip  hands!     No  malice 

bear! 
We  greet  you,  brothers,  to  the  nobler  strife 
Of  building  up  the  newer,  larger  life ! 

Join  hands !    Join  hands  !    Ye  nations  of  the 

stock ! 
And   make   henceforth  a  mighty   Trust  for 

Peace. 
A  great  enduring  peace  that  shall  withstand 
The  shocks  of   time  and  circumstance;   and 

every  land 
Shall   rise   and   bless   you— and   shall   never 

cease 
To  bless  you  — for  that  glorious  gift  of  Peace. 


God's  Handwriting 

He  writes  in  characters  too  grand 
For  our  short  sight  to  understand ; 
We   catch   but  broken   strokes,   and  try 
To  fathom  all  the  mystery 
Of  withered  hopes,  of  death,  of  life, 
The  endless  war,  the  useless  strife,— 
But  there,   with  larger,  clearer  sight, 
We  shall  see  this— His  way  was  right. 


BEES  IN  AMBER 


Stephen — Saul 

Stephen,    who   died   while    I   stood   by    con- 
senting, 
Wrought  in  his  death  the  making  of  a  life, 
Bruised  one  hard  heart  to  thought  of  swift 
repenting, 
Fitted  one  fighter  for  a  nobler  strife. 

Stephen,  the  Saint,  triumphant  and  forgiving, 

Prayed  while  the  hot  blows  beat  him  to  the 

earth. 

"Was  that  a  dying?    Rather  was  it  living!— 

Through  his  soul 's  travail  my  soul  came  to 

birth. 

Stephen,  the  Martyr,  full  of  faith  and  fearless, 
Smiled    when   his    bruised    lips    could    no 
longer  pray,— 
Smiled  with  a  courage  undismayed  and  peer- 
less,— 
Smiled!  — and  that  smile  is  with  me,  night 
and  day. 

0,  was  it  I  that  stood  there,  all  consenting? 
/—at  whose  feet  the  young  men's  clothes 
were  laid  ? 
Was  it  my  will  that  wrought  that  hot  tor- 
menting? 
My  heart  that  boasted  over  Stephen,  dead  ? 


BEES  IN  AMBER  39 


Yes,  it  was  I.    And  sore  to  me  the  telling. 

Yes,  it  was  I.  And  thought  of  it  has  been 
God's  potent  spur  my  whole  soul's  might 
compelling 

These  outer  darknesses  for  Him  to  win. 

Paul 

Bond-slave  to  Christ,  and  in  my  bonds  rejoic- 
ing 
Earmarked   to   Him   I   counted   less   than 
nought ; 
His  man  henceforward,  eager  to  be  voicing 
That    wondrous    Love     which    Saul     the 
Koman  sought. 

Sought  him  and  found  him,  working  bitter 
sorrow ; 
Found  him  and  claimed  him,  chose  him  for 
his  own; 
Bound    him    in    darkness,    till    the    glorious 
morrow 
Unsealed  his  eyes  to  that  he  had  not  known. 

Wakening 

This  mortal  dies,— 

But,  in  the  moment  when  the  light  fails  here, 

The  darkness  opens,  and  the  vision  clear 

Breaks  on  his  eyes. 

The  vail  is  rent,— 

On  his  enraptured  gaze  heaven's  glory  breaks, 

He  was  asleep,  and  in  that  moment  wakes. 


40  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Macedonia,  1903 

Devils'  work! 

Devils'  work,  my  masters! 

Britain,  your  hands  are  red! 
You  may  close  your  heart,  but  you  cannot 

shirk 
This  terrible  fact,— We— kept— the— Turk. 
His  day  was  past  and  we  knew  his  work, 
But  he  played  our  game,  so  we  kept  the  Turk, 
For  our  own  sake's  sake  Ave  kept  the  Turk. 

Britain,  your  hands  are  red! 

Red  are  the  walls  and  the  ways, 

And— Britain,  your  hands  are  red! 
There  is  blood  on  the  hearth,  and  blood  in  the 

well, 
And  the  whole  fair  land  is  a  red,  red  hell,— 
Britain,  your  hands  are  red! 

"Come  over!    Come  over  and  help  us!" 
We  are  deaf  to  the  ancient  cry. 
—"For  the  sake  of  our  women  and  children!" 
And  Britain  stands  quietly  by. 

0  Britain,  your  hands  are  red! 

Cleanse  your  hands,  Britain! 
Yea,  cleanse  them  in  blood  if  it  must  be! 
For  blood  that  is  shed  in  the  cause  of  right 
Has  power,  as  of  old,  to  wash  souls  white. 
Cleanse  your  hands,  Britain! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  41 

0  for  the  fiery  grace  of  old,— 

The  heart  and  the  masterful  hand ! 

But  grace  grows  dim  and  the  fire  grows  cold, 

We  are  heavy  with  greed  and  lust  and  gold, 

And  life  creeps  low  in  the  land. 

Break  your  bonds,  Britain! 

Stand  up  once  again  for  the  right ! 

We  have  stained  our  hands  in  the  times  that 

are  past, 
Before  God,  we  would  wash  them  white. 

For  the  Nations  are  in  the  proving; 
Each  day  is  Judgment  Day; 
And  the  peoples  He  finds  wanting 
Shall  pass— by  the  winding  way. 

Hearts  in  Exile 
0  Exiled  Hearts— for  you,  for  you— 
Love  still  can  find  the  way! 

Hear  the  voices  of  the  women  on  the  road! 
0  Shadowed  Lives— for  you,  for  you— 
Hope  hath  not  lost  her  ray! 

Hear  the  laughter  of  the  children  on  the 
road! 
0  Gloomy  Night— for  you,  for  you— 
Dawn  tells  of  coming  day ! 

Hear  the  clink  of  breaking  fetters  on  the 
road! 
0  Might  sans  Right  — for  you,  for  you— 
The  feet  of  crumbling  clay! 

Hear  the  slow,  sure  tread  of  Freedom  on 
the  road! 


42  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Wandered 

The  wind  blows  shrill  along  the  hill, 

—Black  is  the  night  and  cold— 

The  sky  hangs  low  with  its  weight  of  snow, 

And  the  drifts  are  deep  on  the  wold. 

But  what  care  I  for  wind  or  snow? 

And  what  care  I  for  the  cold? 

Oh  .    .    .  where  is  my  lamb  — 

My  one  eive  lamb  — 

That  strayed  from  the  fold? 

The  beasts  are  safely  gathered  in, 

—Black  is  the  night  and  cold— 

They  are  snug  and  warm,  and  safe  from  harm, 

In  stall  and  byre  and  fold. 

And  the  dogs  and  I,  by  the  blazing  fire, 

Care  nought  for  the  snow  and  the  cold. 
Oh  .    .    .  where  is  my  lamb  — 
My  one  ewe  lamb  — 
That  strayed  from  the  fold? 

The  barns  are  bursting  with  their  store 

Of  grain  like  yellow  gold ; 

A  full,  fat  year  has  brought  good  cheer, 

—Black  is  the  night  and  cold.— 

But   .    .    .  What  care  I  for  teeming  barns? 

And  what  care  I  for  gold  ? 

Oh  .    .    .  ivhere  is  my  lamb  — 

My  one  ewe  lamb— 

That  strayed  from  the  fold? 


BEES  IN  AMBER  43 

In  the  great  kitchen,  maids  and  men, 
-Black  is  the  night  and  cold  — 

Laugh  loud  and  long,  with  jest  and  song, 

And  merry  revel  hold. 

Let  them  laugh  and  sing,  let  them  have  their 
fling, 

But  for  me— I  am  growing  old. 

Oh    .    .    .   where  is  my  lamb  — 

My  one  ewe  lamb  — 

That  strayed  from  the  fold? 

The  old  house  moans,  and  sighs  and  groans, 

—Black  is  the  night  and  cold— 

We  have  seen  brave  times,  you  and  I,   old 
friend, 

But  now— we  are  growing  old. 

AYe  have  stood  foursquare  to  many  a  storm, 

But  now— we  are  growing  old. 

Oh   .    .    .   where  is  my  lamb  — 

My  one  ewe  lamb  — 

That  strayed  from  the  fold? 

Her  mother  sleeps  on  the  hill  out  there, 

—  Black  is  the  night  and  cold,— 

She  is  free  from  care,  she  is  happier  there, 

Beneath  the  warm  brown  mould. 

And  I've  sometimes  hoped  they  may  have 
met, 

And  the  end  of  the  tale  be  told. 

Ah   .    .    .     where  is  oar  lamb  — 

Our  one  ewe  lamb  — 

That  strayed  from  the  fold? 


44  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Was  that  a  branch  that  shed  its  load  ? 

—Black  is  the  night  and  cold,— 

Or— was  it  a  footstep  in  the  snow— 

A  timid  footstep— halting,  slow? 

Ah  me !   I  am  getting  old ! 

Is  that  a  tapping— soft  and  low? 

Can  it  be  .   .   .1  thought  I  heard  .    .    .  but 

no, 
'Twas  only  a  branch  that  shed  its  snow,— 
God 's  truth !    I  am  getting  old  ! 

For  I  thought  .    .    .  maybe 

It  was  my  lamb 

Come  home  again  to  the  fold. 

Dear  Lord !  a  hand  at  the  frozen  pane ! 

•—White  on  the  night's  black  cold— 

0  my  lamb!  my  lamb!  are  you  come  again? 

My  dear  lost  lamb,  are  you  come  again? 

Are  you  come  again  to  the  fold  ? 

It  is !   .    .    .   It  is !   .    .    .  Now  I  thank  Thee, 

Lord, 
For  Thy  Mercies  manifold ! 

She  is  come  again! 

She  is  home  again! 

My  lamb  that  strayed  from  the  fold! 

Bide  a  Wee! 
Though  the  times  be  dark  and  dreary, 
Though  the  way  be  long, 
Keep  your  spirits  bright  and  cheery,— 
— "Bide  a  wee,  and  dinna  weary!" 
Is  a  heartsome  song. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  45 


The  Word  that  was  left  Unsaid 

" A  red  rose  for  my  helmet, 

And  a  word  before  we  part! 

The  rose  shall  be  my  oriflamme 

The  word  shall  fill  my  heart.  ' ' 

Heart,  Heart,  Heart  of  my  heart- 
Just  a  look,  just  a  word  and  a  look! 
A  look  or  a  sign  that  my  love  shall  divine 
And  a  word  for  my  hungering  heart! 

She  toyed  with  his  love  and  her  roses ; 
Was  it  mischief  or  mischance?  — 
She  dropped  him  a  rose—  'twas  a  white  one, 
And  he  lifted  it  on  his  lance. 

Heart,  Heart,  Heart  of  my  heart! 

Is  it  tlius—is  it  thus  we  part? 

With  never  a  look,  and  never  a  sign, 

Nor  a  word  for  my  hungering  heart! 

She  sought  him  among  the  dying, 
She  found  him  among  the  dead ; 
And  the  rose  was  still  in  his  helmet, 
But  his  life  had  stained  it  red. 

Heart,  Heart,  Heart  of  my  heart! 

Now  my  heart  within  me  is  dead. 

And  alack  for  the  look! 

And  alas  for  the  sign! 

And  the  word  that  was  left  unsaid! 


46  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Don't  Worry 

Just  do  your  best, 

And  leave  the  rest 

To  Him  who  gave  you 

Life,- 

And  Zeal  for  Labour,— 

And  the  Joy  of  Strife,— 

And  Zest  of  Love,— 

And  all  that  lifts  your  soul  above 

The  lower  things. 

Life's  truest  harvest  is  in  what  we  would, 

And  strive  our  best  for, 

Not  most  in  what  we  could. 

The  things  we  count  supreme 

Stand,  haply,  not  so  high 

In  God's  esteem 

As  How  and  Why. 

All-Seeing  Sight 

Cleaves  through  the  husk  of  things, 
Right  to  the  Roots  and  Springs,— 
Sees  all  things  whole, 

And  measures  less  the  body  than  the  soul. 
All-Righteous  Right 
Will  weigh  men's  motives, 
Not  their  deeds  alone. 
End  and  Beginning  unto  Him  are  one; 
And  vcould  for  could  shall  oft,   perchance, 
atone. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  47 

Motives  are  seeds, 

From  which  at  times  spring  deeds 

Not  equal  to  the  sours  out-reaching  hope. 

Strive  for  the  stars ! 

Count  nought  well  done  but  best! 

Then,  with  brave  patience,  leave  the  rest 

To  Him  who  knows. 

He'll  judge  you  justly  ere  the  record  close. 


The  Golden  Rose 

The  Golden  Rose  is  blowing  still. 

Is  growing  still,  is  glowing  still, 
In  lonely  vale,  on  lordly  hill, 
The  Golden  Rose  is  glowing  still ;  — 
If  only  you  can  find  it! 

The  Golden  Rose  still  breaks  and  blows, 
Still  breaks   and   blows,   still    gleams   and 
glows, 
'Mid  icy  blasts,  and  wintry  snows, 
The  Golden  Rose  still  breaks  and  blows;  — 
Search  well  and  you  may  find  it! 

The  Golden  Rose  can  never  die, 

'Tis  grafted  on  Eternity; 
In  hearts  that  Love  doth  glorify, 
The  Golden  Rose  can  never  die,— 

May  it  be  yours  to  find  it ! 


48  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Gadara,  A.D.  31 

Rabbi,  begone  !     Thy  powers 

Bring  loss  to  us  and  ours. 

Our  ways  are  not  as  Thine. 

Thou  lovest  men,   we— swine. 

Oh,  get  you  hence,  Omnipotence, 

And  take  this  fool  of  Thine! 

His  soul?    What  care  we  for  his  soul? 

What  good  to  us  that  Thou  hast  made  him 

whole, 
Since  we  have  lost  our  swine  ? 

And  Christ  went  sadly. 

He  had  wrought  for  them  a  sign 

Of  Love,  and  Hope,  and  Tenderness  divine; 

They  wanted— swine. 

Christ  stands  without  your  door  and  gently 

knocks ; 
But    if    your    gold,    or   swine,    the    entrance 

blocks, 
He  forces  no  man's  hold— he  will  depart, 
And  leave  you  to  the  treasures  of  your  heart. 

Xo  cumbered  chamber  will  the  Master  share, 

But  one  swept  bare 

By  cleansing  fires,  then  plenished  fresh  and 

fair 
With  meekness,  and  humility,  and  prayer. 
There  will  He  come,  yet,  coming,  even  there 
He  stands  and  waits,  and  will  no  entrance  win 
Until  the  latch  be  lifted  from  within. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  49 

The  Bells  of  Step  ax  Ilixe 

(Cradle  Song  from  "The  Long  Road.") 

Whiaht,  Baby!     Whisht! 

Quick  below  the  cover! 

Down  into  your  nest,  my  bird! 

And  — don't— you  — dare— peep— over! 

For  the  grey  wolves  they  are  prowling, 

They  are  prowling,  they  are  prowling. 

And  the  snow-wind  it  is  howling, 

It  is  howling,  it  is  howling. 

Hark! Hark!---- 

Out  there  in  the  dark— 

Ow  —  ooh  !    Ow  —  ooh ! 

S-s-s-s-s-seee-  -oo-  -ooh ! 

The  wolves  they  are  lean, 

So-o-o  lean,  so-o-o  lean! 

And  the  wind  it  is  keen, 

So-o-o  keen,  so-o-o  keen! 

And  they  seek  little  babies  who  aren  't  sleeping ! 

But  lie  you  still,  my  Baby  dear ! 

Lie  still,  lie  still,  and  maybe  you  11  hear— 

Hark! Hark! 

Out  there  in  the  dark,— 

The  silver  bells  and  the  golden  bells, 

The  swinging  bells  and   the  singing  bells,— 

The  bells  that  are  heard  but  never  are  seen, 

The  wind  and  the  wrolves,  and  the  bells  in 

between,— 
The  bells  of  Iline, 
Good  Stepan  Iline,— 
The  bells  of  good  Stepan 
Iline! 


50  BEES  IN  AMBER 


Bolt  that  Door! 

Each  sin  has  its  door  of  entrance. 

Keep— that— door— closed ! 

Bolt  it  tight ! 

Just  outside,  the  wild  beast  crouches 

In  the  night. 

Pin  the  bolt  with  a  prayer, 

God  will  fix  it  there. 


Giant  Circumstance 

Though  every  nerve  be  strained 

To  fine  accomplishment, 

Full  oft  the  life  fall  spent 

Before  the  prize  is  gained. 

And,  in  our  discontent 

At  waste  so  evident, 

In  doubt  and  vast  discouragement 

We  wonder  what  is  meant. 

But,  tracing  back,  we  find 

A  Power  that  held  the  ways— 

A  Mighty  Hand,  a  Master  Mind, 

That  all  the  troubled  course  defined 

And  overruled  the  days. 

Some  call  it  Fate;  some -Chance; 

Some— Giant  Circumstance; 

And  some,  upreaching  to  the  sense 

Of  God  within  the  circumstance, 

Do  call  it— Providence ! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  51 

The  Hungry  Sea 

Down  to  the  sea,  the  hungry  sea, 

0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 

Seeking  food  for  the  bairns  and  me, 

Seeking  food  in  the  hungry  sea ; 

0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 


My  man  and  my  lad— their  bones  are  white, 

0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 
Into  the  maw  of  the  grim  black  night, 
Their  hearts  were  bold  and  their  faces  bright ; 
0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 

The  sun  was  red  and  the  clouds  were  black, 

0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 
And  the  sky  was  heavy  with  flying  wrack, 
When  forth  they  fared,— and  they  came  not 
back; 

0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 


Forth  they  fared  and  they  came  not  back, 

0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 
0,  I  fear  the  sea,  and  I  hate  the  sea. 
That  took  my  man  and  my  lad  from  me; 
0  the  sea  is  hungry  ever! 


52  BEES  IN  AMBER 

We  Thank  Thee,  Lord 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord, 

That  of  Thy  tender  grace, 

In  our  distress 

Thou  hast  not  left  us  wholly  comfortless. 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord, 

That  of  Thy  wondrous  might, 

Into  our  night 

Thou  hast  sent  down  the  glory  of  the  Light. 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord, 
That  all  Thy  wondrous  ways, 
Through  all  our  days, 

Are  Wisdom,  Right,   and   Ceaseless  Tender- 
ness. 

The  Vail 

He  only  sees  both  sides  of  that  dark  vail 

That  hangs  before  men's  eyes— 

He  only.     It  is  well! 

Hope  ever  stands  unseen 

Behind  the  screen, 

For  knowledge  would  bring  Hope  to  sudden 

death, 
And  cloud  the  present  with  the  coming  ill. 
I  would  lie  still,  Dear  Lord, 
I  would  lie  still, 

And  stay  my  troubled  heart  on  Thee, 
Obedient  to  Thy  will. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  53 

No  East  or  West 

In  Christ  there  is  no  East  or  West, 

In  Him  no  South  or  North, 
But  one  great  Fellowship  of  Love 

Throughout  the  whole  wide  earth. 

In   Him  shall   true   hearts  everywhere 

Their  high  communion  find. 
His  service  is  the  golden  cord 

Close-binding  all  mankind. 

Join  hands  then,  Brothers  of  the  Faith, 
Whate'er  your  race  may  be!  — 
Who  serves  my  Father  as  a  son 
Is  surely  kin  to  me. 

In  Christ  now  meet  both  East  and  West, 
In  Him  meet  South  and  North, 

All  Christly  souls  are  one  in  Him, 
Throughout  the  whole  wide  earth. 


The  Day— The  Way 

Not  for  one  single  day 
Can  I  discern  my  way, 

But  this  I  surely  know,— 
Who  gives  the  day, 
Will  show  the  way, 

So  I  securely  go. 


54  BEES  IN  AMBER 


Liberty,  Equality,  Fraternity 

0  God,  within  whose  sight 
All  men  have  equal  right 

To  worship  Thee. 
Break  every  bar  that  holds 
Thy  flock  in  diverse  folds ! 
Thy  Will  from  none  withholds 

Full  liberty. 

Lord,  set  Thy  Churches  free 
From  foolish  rivalry! 

Lord,  set  us  free ! 
Let  all  past  bitterness 
Now  and  for  ever  cease, 
And  all  our  souls  possess 

Thy  charity! 

Lord,  set  the  people  free! 
Let  all  men  draw  to  Thee 

In  unity! 
Thy  temple  courts  are  wide, 
Therein  Jet  all  abide 
In  peace,  and  side  by  side, 

Serve  on]y  Thee ! 

God,  grant  us  now  Thy  peace! 
Bid  all  dissensions  cease! 

God,  send  us  peace ! 
Peace  in  True  Liberty, 
Peace  in  Equality, 
Peace  and  Fraternity, 

God,  send  us  peace! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  55 

Freemen 

Let  no  man  stand  between  my  God  and  me! 

I  claim  a  Free  man's  right 

Of  intercourse  direct  with  Him, 

AVho  gave  me  Freedom  with  the  air  and  light. 

God  made  me  free.— 

Let  no  man  stand  between 

Me  and  my  liberty! 

We  need  no  priest  to  tell  us  God  is  Love.— 

Have  we  not  eyes  to  see, 

And  minds  to  apprehend,  and  hearts 

That  leap  responsive  to  His  Charity? 

God's  gifts  are  free.— 

Let  no  man  stand  between 

Us  and  His  liberty! 

We  need  no  priest  to  point  a  way  to  heaven.— 

God's  heaven  is  here,— is  there,— 

Man's  birthright,  with  the  light  and  air,— 

"God  is  His  own  and  best  interpreter." 

His  ways  are  free.— 

Let  no  man  stand  between 

Us  and  His  liberty ! 

Let  no  man  strive  to  rob  us  of  this  right! 

For  this,  from  age  to  age, 

Our  fathers  did  a  mighty  warfare  wage, 

And,  by  God's  help,  we'll  keep  our  heritage! 

God  says -"Be  Free!" 

And  we,— 

"No  Man  shall  stand  between 

Our  Sons  and  Liberty!" 


56  BEES  IN  AMBER 

The  Long  Road 

Long  the  road, 

Till  Love  came  down  it! 
Dark  the  life, 

Till  Love  did  crown  it! 
Dark  the  life, 

And  long  the  road, 
Till  Love  came 

To  share  the  load! 
For  the  touch 

Of  Love  transfigures 
All  the  road 

And  all  its  rigours. 
Life  and  Death, 
Love's  touch  transfigures. 
Life  and  Death 

And  all  that  lies 
In  between, 
Love  sanctifies. 

Once  the  heavenly  spark  is  lighted, 
Once  in  love  two  hearts  united, 
Nevermore 

Shall  aught  that  was  be 
As  before. 

The  Christ 

The  good  intent  of  God  became  the  Christ. 
And  lived  on  earth— the  Living  Love  of  God, 
That  men  might  draw  to  closer  touch  with 

heaven, 
Since  Christ  in  all  the  ways  of  man  hath  trod. 


BEES  IX  AMBER  57 

The  Ballad  of  Lost  Souls 

With  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver, 
They  bought  the  Potter's  Field; 
For  none  would   have  the  blood-money 
And  the  interest  it  might  yield. 

The  Place  of  Blood  for  the  Price  of  Blood, 
And  that  was  meet,  I  ween, 
For  there  they  would  bury  the  dead  who  died 
In  frowardness  and  sin. 

And  the  first  man  they  would  bury  there 

Was  Judas  Iscariot; 

And  that  was  as  dreadful  a  burying 

As  ever  was,  I  wot. 

For  the  sick  earth  would  not  keep  him ; 
Each  time  it  thrust  him  out, 
And  they  that  would  have  buried  him 
Stood  shuddering  round  about. 

And  others  they  would  bury 

In  that  unhallowed  spot, 

But  honest  earth  would  none  of  them, 

Because  of  Iscariot. 

And  oh,  it  was  a  fell,  fell  place, 

With  dead  black  trees  all  round, 

And  a  quag  that  boiled  and  writhed  and  coiled 

Where  had  been  solid  ground. 


58  BEES  IN  AMBER 

For  every  tree  that  stood  there, 
And  the  green  grass  every  blade, 
Shrivelled  and  died  on  every  side, 
Whenever  the  price  was  paid. 

And  in  despair  they  left  him  there, 

And  there  his  body  lay, 

Till  his  sad  soul  came,  all  black  with  shame, 

And  carried  it  away. 

And  those  denied  a  sepulture 
In  that  most  dismal  spot, 
Gibbered  and  flew,  a  ghastly  crew, 
Incensed  with  rage,  that  grew  and  grew, 
Against  Iscariot. 

For  their  souls  were  all  in  torment, 
While  their  bodies  uncovered  lay, 
And  never  a  moment's  rest  was  theirs, 
Either  by  night  or  day. 

That  wras  a  place  of  wailings, 
And  the  grisly  things  of  Death,— 
The  bare  black  arms  of  the  trees  above, 
And  the  black  quag  underneath. 

No  light  of  the  moon  fell  on  it, 

Nor  ever  a  star  did  shine 

On  the  quivering  face  of  that  dread  place> 

Because  of  Iscariot 's  sin. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  59 

Then  there  came  by  the  soul  of  Iscariot, 
The  same  who  sold  his  Lord, 
And  he  dragged  his  body  after  him, 
But  never  spake  a  word. 

Since  earth  his  body  would  not, 
He  must  drag  it  to  and  fro, 
He  had  tried  in  vain  to  be  quit  of  it, 
But  it  would  not  let  him  go. 

So  the  soul  of  Judas  Iscariot 

Came  by  the  Potter's  Field, 

And  there  the  ill  his  deed  had  wrought 

AVas  unto  him  revealed. 

And  when  the  others  saw  him, 
They  leaped  at  him  eagerly;  — 
1 '  This  is  he  for  whom  we  suffer ! 
-Tis  he!     Tis  he!     Tis  he!" 

Then  all  afire  with  mad  desire, 
They  chased  him  through  the  dark, 
And  each  soul  carried  his  dead  bodie, 
Grim,  and  stiff,  and  stark. 

They  struck  at  him  with  their  bodies, 
Tliey  cursed  him  for  his  sin, 
They  made  to  tear  his  dumb  soul  there, 
With  their  fingers  long  and  lean. 

And  Judas  fled  in  his  horror, 
AYith  that  fell  crew  behind, 


60  BEES  IN  AMBER 

And  as  they  sped  the  people  said 
Death  rode  upon  the  wind. 

They  chased  him  near,  they  chased  him  far, 
Because  of  his  treachery, 
And  ever  he  just  escaped  their  lust, 
And  ever  they  were  nigh. 

They  chased  him  near,  they  chased  him  far, 

And  ever  they  were  nigh, 

And  never  a  star  shone  out  on  them 

Out  of  the  cold  black  sky. 

And  as  they  sped  by  Calvary, 
There  were  empty  crosses  three,— 
And  on  the  ground,  below  the  mound, 
Lay  one  in  agony. 

"Three  times  I  swore  I  knew  Him  not, 
And  then— He  looked  on  me. 
Ah,  such  a  look!— no  harshest  word 
Had  ever  proved  so  sharp  a  sword 
To  my  inconstancy. 

"Three  times  I  did  deny  Thee,  Lord! 
And  yet,  thou  couldst  forgive, 
Now  am  I  thine— in  life,  in  death; 
Thee  will  I  serve  with  every  breath, 
While  I  have  breath  to  give." 

They  sped  by  an  open  window, 
Where  one  knelt  all  alone, 


BEES  IX  AMBER  61 

In  great  amaze,  in  greater  grief, 
In  woe  that  wrestled  with  belief, 
The  Mother  mourned  her  Son. 

"My  son,  I  knew  thee  more  than  man,— 
Ah  me!  — and  the  heart  of  me! 
Yet,  man  in  God,  and  God  in  man, 
Still  wast  thou  part  of  me. 

"The  nails  through  thy  dear  hands  and  feet,— 

Ah  me!  they  pierced  my  own. 

The  thorns  that  on  thy  brow  they  plied,— 

The  spear  they  drove  into  thy  side,— 

The  pangs  thy  Godhead  could  not  hide,— 

They  pierced  me  too,  my  son. 

"My  son!    My  son!    My  more  than  son, 

My  heart  is  full  for  thee! 

Yet,  tho9  I  know  thee  so  much  more 

Than  ever  mortal  man  before,— 

Yea,  tho9  I  worship  and  adore,— 

Woe's  me!— and  the  heart  of  me!" 

And  ever  they  came  by  the  Potter's  Field, 
And  thrust  their  bodies  in, 
And  ever  the  sick  earth  spat  them  out, 
Because  of  Iscariot's  sin. 

They  sped  along  a  palace-wall, 

The  feast  waxed  high  inside,— 

On  Golgotha  the  Cross  still  stood, 

The  Cross  where  man  had  nailed  his  God, 


G2  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Red  was  the  Rood  still  with  his  blood,— 
They  drank— "Tfte  Crucified!" 

The  revel  gashed  the  sombre  night, 
And  fast  the  wine-cups  plied,— 
Time  touched  Eternity  that  day;— 
God  had  come  down  to  man  that  day;— 
The  world  began  anew  that  day;— 
They  drank-"T7ie  Crucified!" 

And  ever  again  to  the  Potter's  Field, 

The  Souls  in  torment  came, 

But  the  black  quag  boiled  and  writhed  and 

coiled, 
And  would  have  none  of  them. 

And  everywhere  strange  shapes  of  death 
Walked  in  the  fearsome  gloom, 
For  that  last  cry  from  Calvary 
Had  rent  in  twain  the  Temple  vail, 
And  burst  the  gates  of  Doom. 

Through  all  the  startled  city,  walked 
The  saints  that  had  been  dead, 
And  to  the  sorrowful  in  heart 
Holy  comfort  ministred. 

And  wThen  they  met  Iscariot, 

Sore  hounded  in  the  chase, 

They  cried  to  him,  for  the  Love  of  God, 

To  seek  God's  grace. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  63 

And  ever  to  the  Field  of  Death, 
The  souls  in  torment  came, 
Seeking  the  rest  of  the  Blessed  Dead,— 
But  earth  would  none  of  them. 

And  as  they  whirled  through  a  garden, 
They  came  on  an  empty  tomb, 
The  stone  was  gone,  a  soft  light  shone 
Full  softly  on  the  gloom. 

Bright  was  that  Light,  and  wondrous  bright, 
Twas  brighter  than  the  sun ; 
As  then  it  shone,  so  shines  it  now, 
And  shall  when  Time  is  done. 

And  all  along  the  pathway 

Was  a  track  of  throbbing  light; 

Where  the  Christ  had  gone  His  footsteps  shone, 

Like  stars  in  a  velvet  night. 

'Twas  the  spent  soul  of  Iscariot 
Was  like  the  wind-blown  dust, 
As  nearer  still,  and  near,  and  near, 
He  bent  and  crept,  in  doubt,  and  fear, 
He  came  because  he  must. 

'Twas  the  sick  soul  of  Iscariot 

That  drew  from  out  the  night 

And  the  full  of  his  sin  was  known  to  him 

In  the  Shining  of  the  Light. 


64  BEES  IN  AMBER   

In  the  rim  of  the  Light  he  laid  him, 
Repented  of  his  sin. 
"1  wotted  not!     I  wotted  not! 
Bear  Master,  take  me  in!" 

And  as  he  lay  there  sorrowing, 

Up  came  the  felon  crew. 

They  flailed  him  with  their  dead  bodys, 

They  heeded  not  his  rue. 

They  flailed  him  with  their  dead  bodys, 
They  heeded  not  their  spleen. 
"1  wotted  not!    I  wotted  not! 
Dear  Master,  take  me  in!" 

And  then   .    .    .   a  Vision  and  a  Voice,  - 
And  the  Word  made  manifest,— 
"Lay  down  thy  load  where  I  abode, 
And  I  will  give  thee  rest! 

"And  ye,— no  more  hunt  Iscariot! 
He  repents  him  of  his  sin. 
And  never  a  soul  that  repenteth 
Bat  he  may  enter  in. 

"This  Day  the  Door  is  opened 
That  shall  never  close  again, 
And  never  a  soul  that  would  come  in 
Shall  seek  to  come  in  vain." 


BEES  IN  AMBER  65 

And  the  dead  soul  of  Iscariot 

Was  born  again  that  night; 

For  the  Lord  Christ  came  dead  souls  to  claim 

And  lead  them  into  Light. 

And  the  souls  of  the  unburied, 
When  they  looked  upon  His  face, 
Were  cleansed  of  sin  and  entered  in 
To  His  redeeming  grace. 

So,  by  that  wonderful  great  Love 
Which  highest  heaven  extols,— 
To  Mother  Earth  their  dead  bodies, 
And  unto  Christ  their  souls. 

Profit  and  Loss 

Profit?— Loss? 

Who  shall  declare  this  good— that  ill?— 

When  good  and  ill  so  intertwine 

But  to  fulfil  the  vast  design 

Of  an  Omniscient  Will?  — 

When  seeming  gain  but  turns  to  loss,— 

When   earthly  treasure  proves  but  dross,— 

And  what  seemed  loss  but  turns  again 

To  high,  eternal  gain? 

Wisest  the  man  who  does  his  best, 
And  leaves  the  rest 
To  Him  who  counts  not  deeds  alone, 
But  sees  the  root,  the  flower,  the  fruit, 
And  calls  them  one. 


66  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Free  Men  of  God 

Free  men  of  God,  the  New  Day  breaks 

In  golden  gleams  across  the  sky; 

The  darkness  of  the  night  is  past, 

This  is  the  Day  of  Victory. 

For  this  our  fathers  strove, 
In  stern  and  fiery  love- 
That  men  to  come  should  be 
Born  into  liberty— 

That  all  should  be — as  we  are — Free ! 

Free  men  of  God,  gird  up  your  loins, 
And  brace  you  for  the  final  fight! 
Strike  home,  strike  home  for  Truth  and  Right ! 
—Yet  bear  yourselves  as  in  His  sight! 

For  this  our  fathers  fought, 

This  with  their  lives  they  bought— 

That  you  and  I  should  be 

Heirs  of  their  liberty— 
That  all  should  be— as  we  are— Free! 

Free  men  we  are  and  so  will  be ; 
We  claim  free  access  unto  Him, 
Who  widened  all  the  bounds  of  life, 
And  us  from  bondage  did  redeem. 

Let  no  man  intervene, 

Or  draw  a  veil  between 

Us  and  our  God,  for  He 

Would  have  His  people  free,— 
And  we  would  be— as  Thou  art— Free. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  67 

Free  men  of  God,  your  Birthright  claim! 
Our  fathers  won  it  with  a  price. 
They  paid  in  full  to  axe  and  flame, 
Nor  counted  up  the  sacrifice. 

This  is  our  heritage, 

And  here  we  do  engage, 

Each  man  unto  his  son 

Intact  to  pass  it  on. 
So  shall  they  be— as  we  are— Free ! 

Our  Sure  Defence,  in  times  of  stress, 
Thy  gates  stand  open,  wide  and  free, 
When  men  provoke  and  wrongs  oppress, 
We  seek  Thy  wider  liberty. 

With  loftier  mind  and  heart, 

Let  each  man  bear  his  part ! 

So  — to  the  final  fight, 

And  God  defend  the  right ! 
We  shall,  we  must,  we  will  be— Free! 

Treasure-  Troye 

Lord  Christ,  let  me  but  hold  Thy  hand 

And  all  the  rest  may  go. 

For  nothing  is,  but  only  seems, 

And  life  is  full  of  idle  dreams, 

Until  Thyself  we  know. 

The  whole  wide  world  is  nought  beside 
The  wonder  of  Thy  love. 
And  though  my  state  be  mean  and  strait, 
Give  me  but  heart  to  work  and  wTait, 
And  I  have  Treasure-Trove. 


68  BEES  IN  AMBER 

The  Gate 

"A  little  child  shall  lead  them." 
I  trod  an  arduous  way,  but  came  at  last 
To  where  the  city  walls  rose  fair  and  white 
Above  the  darkening  plain,— a  goodly  sight. 
And  eagerly,  while  yet  a  great  way  off, 
My  eyes  did  seek  the  Gates— the  Great  "White 

Gates 
That  close  not  ever,  day  or  night,  but  stand 
Wide  as  the  love  of  Christ  that  opened  them. 
But  nought  could  I  discern  of  gate  or  breach, 
The  wall  stood  flawless  far  as  eye  could  reach. 

But  when  I  drew  in  closer  to  the  wall, 
I  saw  a  lowly  portal,  strait  and  small; 
So  small,  a  man  might  hardly  enter  there, 
Low-browed  and  shadowed,  and  close-pressed 

to  earth— 
A  very  needle's  eye— scarce  visible. 
I  looked  and  wondered.     Could  this  trivial 

way 
Be  the  sole  entrance  to  the  light  of  day? 
And  as  I  stood  perplext,  a  clear  voice  cried,— 
"Come!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 

And  while  I  stood  in  doubt,  there  came  along 
One  of  earth's  mighty  ones— a  conqueror 
Of  Kings.     He  looked  for  gates  that  should 

swing  wide 
To  meet  his  high  estate  and  welcome  him. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  69 

He  stood  and  gazed,  then  raised  his  voice  and 

cried, 
"My  work  on  earth  is  done.  I  would  within." 
And  from  the  City  wall  the  voice  replied,— 
"Come!  Enter  in!  The  Gate  is  open  wide/9 
He  stood  perplext,  then  set  himself  to  wait, 
Till  Might  should  help  him  to  discern  the  Gate. 

Another  came,  — a  man  of  mind  so  rare, 

He  scarce  had  breathed  the  common  earthly 

air. 
Knowledge  was  his,  and  wisdom  so  profound, 
All  things  he  knew  in  heaven  and  earth.    No 

bound 
To  his  accomplishment,  until  he  sought 
The  great  wide-opened  Gate,— and  found  it 

not. 
He  stood  perplext,  and  then  cried  wearily, 
"Pray  give  me  entrance.     I  am  done  with 

earth.' ' 
And  from  the  City  wall  the  clear  voice  cried,— 
"Come!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 
He  looked  in  vain,  then  set  himself  to  wait, 
Till  Wisdom  should  direct  him  to  the  gate. 

I  saw  a  woman  come,  noble  and  fair, 

And  pure  of  heart,  and  in  her  goodly  deeds 

More    richly    robed    than    Fashion's    fairest 

queen. 
And  to  myself  I  said,— "Surely  for  her 
A  way  will  open  that  she  may  go  in!" 


70  BEES  IN  AMBER 

She  said  no  word,  but  stood  and  looked  upon 
The  shining  walls,  with  eyes  that  answering 

shone. 
And  from  the  City  wall  the  clear  voice  cried,— 
"Come!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 
She  looked  in  vain,  then  set  herself  to  wait, 
Till  Love  should  help  her  to  discern  the  Gate. 

And  one  there  came,  with  clear  keen  face— a 

Judge 
Of  men  on  earth,  and  famed  for  fearless  truth. 
His  robes  were  stainless  and  his  heart  was 

clean. 
"Entrance    I    crave,"    he    cried,    "to    well- 
earned  rest,— 
And  mercy-tempered  justice  and  no  more/' 
And  from  the  City  wall  the  clear  voice  cried,— 
"Coyne!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 
He  looked  in  vain,  then  set  himself  to  wait 
Till  Judgment  should  direct  him  to  the  Gate. 

And  one  there  came,  sad-eyed,  his  brow  still 
raw 

From  pressure  of  an  earthly  crown.    He  too 

Sought  glorious  entrance  through  wide- 
opened  gates, 

And  stood  perplext.  He  had  borne  well  his 
part, 

And  served  his  people  and  his  God,  and  died 

The  Martyr's  death,  and  yet  he  found  no  gate. 

"I  fain  would  rest,"  he  cried.  "My  life  has 
been 


BEES  IN  AMBER  71 

One  ceaseless  striving.     I  would  enter  in." 
And  from  the  City  wall  the  clear  voice  cried,— 
"Come!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 
Perplext  he  stood,  then  set  himself  to  wait. 
Till  Patient  Waiting  should  discern  the  Gate. 

And  one  who  had  had  riches  beyond  most, 
And  yet  subserved  them  to  his  Master's  good, 
Came  searching  for  the  heavenly  gates,  and 

stood 
Amazed  to  find  no  opening  in  the  walls. 
"I  gave  of  all  I  had,"  he  cried,  "and  held 
Nought  as  my  own,— yet  entrance  is  denied.' ' 
And  from  the  City  wall  the  clear  voice  cried,— 
"Come!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 
He  stood  perplext,  then  set  himself  to  wait 
Till  Charity  should  point  him  to  the  Gate. 

And  many  more   there   were   who   entrance 

craved, 
And  sought  the  Great  White  Gates,  and  stood 

perplext. 
And  ever,  from  within,  the  clear  voice  cried,— 
''Come!    Enter  in!    The  Gate  is  open  wide." 
They  sought  in  vain,  and  set  themselves  to 

wait 
Till  Light  was  given  them  to  discern  the  Gate. 

And  then  — a  child  in  white  came  carolling 
Along  the  arduous  road  we  all  had  trod. 
He  stopped   and  looked,   then  laughed  with 
childish  glee,— 


72  BEES  IN  AMBER 

"Why  wait  ye  here  without?    Come,  follow 

met"— 
And    passed,    scarce    bending,    through    the 

lowly  door,— 
We  heard  his  singing,— him  we  saw  no  more. 

The  woman  stooped  and  looked,   with   eyes 

that  shone, 
Into  the  doorway  where  the  child  had  gone; 
Then  loosed  her  robes  and  dropped,  and  in  a 

shift 
Of  pure  white  samite,  on  her  hands  and  knees 
She  crept  into  the  doorway  and  was  gone, 
And  we  stood  gazing  at  the  way  she  went. 

And,  one  by  one,  they  followed.     First  the 

Judge 
Laid   by  his  robes,   and   bowed  him  to   the 

ground, 
And  followed— where  the  little  child  had  led. 
And  he  whose  brow  had  borne  that  weighty 

crown 
Bent  low  and  followed,— where  the  little  child 

had  led. 
And  he  who  knew  so  much  of  earthly  things 
Discarded  them,  and,  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
Crept  through  the  doorway,— where  the  little 

child  had  led. 
And  he  of  riches  laid  him  in  the  dust 
And  followed,— where  the  little  child  had  led. 
And,  last  of  all,  the  War  Lord  cast  aside 
His  victor's  wreaths,  and  all  his  pomp  and 

pride, 


BEES  IN  AMBER  73 

And  followed,— where  the  little  child  had  led. 
And,  groping  through  my  fears,  I  bowed  my 

head 
And  followed,— where  the  little  child  had  led. 


Bring  Us  the  Light 

I  hear  a  clear  voice  calling,  calling, 
Calling  out  of  the  night, 
0,  you  who  live  in  the  Light  of  Life, 
Bring  us  the  Light ! 

We  are  bound  in  the  chains  of  darkness, 
Our  eyes  received  no  sight, 
0,  you  who  have  never  been  bond  or  blind, 
Bring  us  the  Light ! 

We  live  amid  turmoil  and  horror, 
Where  might  is  the  only  right, 
0,  you  to  whom  life  is  liberty, 
Bring  us  the  Light ! 

We  stand  in  the  ashes  of  ruins, 
We  are  ready  to  fight  the  fight, 
0,  you  whose  feet  are  firm  on  the  Rock, 
Bring  us  the  Light ! 

You  cannot— you  shall  not  forget  us, 
Out  here  in  the  darkest  night, 
We  are  drowning  men,  we  are  dying  men, 
Bring,  0,  bring  us  the  Light! 


74  BEES  IN  AMBER 


All's  Well! 

Is  the  pathway  dark  and  dreary? 

God's  in  His  heaven! 
Are  you  broken,  heart-sick,  weary? 

God 's  in  His  heaven ! 
Dreariest  roads  shall  have  an  ending, 
Broken  hearts  are  for  God's  mending. 
All's  well!    All's  well! 
All's   .    .    .  well! 

Are  life's  threads  all  sorely  tangled? 

God 's  in  His  heaven ! 
Are  the  sweet  chords  strained  and  jangled? 

God's  in  His  heaven! 
Tangled  threads  are  for  Love's  fingers, 
Trembling     chords     make     heaven's     sweet 
singers. 

All's  well!    All's  well! 
All's   .    .    .  well! 

Is  the  burden  past  your  bearing? 

God's  in  His  heaven ! 
Hopeless?— Friendless?— No  one  caring? 

God 's  in  His  heaven ! 
Burdens  shared  are  light  to  carry, 
Love  shall  come  though  long  He  tarry. 
All's  well!    All's  well! 
All's   .    .    .  well! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  75 

Is  the  light  for  ever  failing? 

God's  in  His  heaven! 
Is  the  faint  heart  ever  quailing? 

God's  in  His  heaven! 
God's  strong  arms  are  all  around  you, 
In  the  dark  He  sought  and  found  you. 
All's  well!    All's  well! 
All's  .    .    .  well! 


Is  the  future  black  with  sorrow? 

God 's  in  His  heaven ! 
Do  you  dread  each  dark  to-morrow? 

God's  in  His  heaven! 
Nought  can  come  without  His  knowing. 
Come  what  may  'tis  His  bestowing. 
All's  well!    All's  well! 
All's  .    .    .   well! 


Peace  and  heaven  lie  all  about  us. 

God's  in  His  heaven! 
Peace  within  makes  heaven  without  us. 

God 's  in  His  heaven ! 
God's  great  love  shall  fail  us  never, 
We  are  His,  and  His  for  ever. 
All's  well!    All's  well! 
All's  .    .    .  well! 


76  BEES  IN  AMBER 

His  Mercy  Endureth  for  Ever 

Our  feet  have  wandered,  wandered  far  and 
wide,— 
His  mercy  endureth  for  ever! 
From  that  strait  path  in  which  the  Master 
died,— 
His  mercy  endureth  for  ever! 
Low  have  we  fallen  from  our  high  estate, 
Long  have  we  lingered,  lingered  long  and  late ; 
Bat  the  tenderness  of  God 
Is  from  age  to  age  the  same, 
And  His  Mercy  endureth  for  ever! 

There  is  no  sin  His  Love  can  not  forgive;— 

His  mercy  endureth  for  ever! 
Xo  soul  so  stained  His  Love  will  not  receive ; 

His  mercy  endureth  for  ever! 
No  load  of  sorrow  but  His  touch  can  move, 
No  hedge  of  thorns  that  can  withstand  His 
Love ; 

For  the  tenderness  of  God 

Is  from  age  to  age  the  same, 

And  His  Mercy  endureth  for  ever! 

So  we  will  sing,  whatever  may  betide;  — 

His  mercy  endureth  for  ever! 
Nought  but  ourselves  can  keep  us  from  His 
side;— 
His  mercy  endureth  for  ever! 
"What  though  no  place  we  win  in  life's  rough 
race, 


BEES  IN  AMBER 


Our  loss  may  prove  the  measure  of  His  grace. 
For  the  tenderness  of  God 
Is  from  age  to  age  the  same, 
And  His  Mercy  endureth  for  ever! 


God  is  Good 

I  faced  a  future  all  unknown, 

No  opening  could  I  see, 

I  heard  without  the  night  wind  moan, 

The  ways  were  dark  to  me,— 

"I  cannot  face  it  all  alone 

0  be  Thou  near  to  rue ! ' ' 

1  had  done  sums,  and  sums,  and  sums, 
Inside  my  aching  head. 

I'd  tried  in  vain  to  pierce  the  glooms 
That  lay  so  thick  ahead. 
But  two  and  two  will  not  make  five, 
Nor  will  do  when  I'm  dead. 

And  then  I  thought  of  Him  who  fed 

Five  thousand  hungry  men, 

With  five  small  casual  loaves  of  bread,— 

Would  he  were  here  again!  — 

Dear  God !  hast  Thou  still  miracles 

For  the  troubled  sons  of  men? 

He  has,  He  will,  He  worketh  still, 

In  ways  most  wonderful. 

He  drew  me  from  the  miry  clay, 


78  BEES  IN  AMBER 

He  filled  my  cup  quite  full. 

And  while  my  heart  can  speak  I'll  tell 

His  love  unspeakable. 

"Rest  in  the  Lord!"— I  saw  it  there, 
On  the  tablets  of  the  night. 
And,  comforted,  I  dropped  my  care 
Where  burdens  have  no  weight. 
Then,  trustfully,  I  turned  and  slept, 
And  woke,  and  it  was  light. 

God  works  to-day  as  He  did  of  old 

For  the  lightening  of  men's  woes. 

His  wonders  never  can  be  told, 

His  goodness  no  man  knows,— 

His  Love,  His  Power,  His  Tenderness, — 

Nor  shall  do  till  life's  close. 

His  kindness  is  so  very  great, 

His  greatness  is  so  good. 

He  looks  upon  my  low  estate, 

He  gives  me  daily  food. 

And  nothing  is  too  small  for  Him,— 

Yes,  truly!    God  is  good. 

Some — and  Some 

Some  have  much,  and  some  have  more, 
Some  are  rich,  and  some  are  poor, 
Some  have  little,  some  have  less, 
Some  have  not  a  cent  to  bless 
Their  empty  pockets,  yet  possess 
True  riches  in  true  happiness. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  79 

The  Prince  of  Life 

0,  Prince  of  Life,  Thy  Life  hath  tuned 
All  life  to  sweeter,  loftier  grace! 
Life's  common  rounds  have  wider  bounds 
Since  Thou  hast  trod  life's  common  ways. 

0,  Heart  of  Love!  Thy  Tenderness 
Still  runs  through  life's  remotest  vein; 
And  lust  and  greed  and  soulless  creed 
Shall  never  rule  the  world  again. 

0  Life  of  Love!— The  Good  Intent 
Of  God  to  man  made  evident,— 
All  down  the  years,  despite  men's  fears, 
Thy  Power  is  still  omnipotent. 

0  Life!  0  Love!  0  Living  Word!— 
Rent  Vail,  revealing  God  to  man- 
Help,  Lord!  Lest  I  should  crucify, 
By  thought  or  deed,  Thy  Love  again. 


Judgment  Day 

Every  day  is  Judgment  Day, 

Count  on  no  to-morrow. 

He    wTho    will    not,    wThen    he    may, 

Act  to-day,  to-day,  to-day, 

Doth  but  borrow 

Sorrow. 


80  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Darkness  and  Light 

There  is  darkness  still,  gross  darkness,  Lord, 

On  this  fair  earth  of  Thine. 

There  are  prisoners  still  in  the  prison-house, 

Where  never  a  light  doth  shine. 

There  are  doors  still  bolted  against  Thee, 

There  are  faces  set  like  a  wall ; 

And  over  them  all  the  Shadow  of  Death 

Hangs  like  a  pall. 

Do  you  hear  the  voices  calling, 
Out  there  in  the  black  of  the  night? 
Do  you  hear  the  sobs  of  the  women, 
Who  are  barred  from  the  blessed  light? 
And  the  children,— the  little  children,— 
Do  you  hear  their  pitiful  cry? 
0  brothers,  ice  must  seek  them, 
Or  tli ere  in  the  dark  they  die! 

Spread  the  Light !    Spread  the  Light ! 
Till  earth's  remotest  bounds  have  heard 
The  glory  of  the  Living  Word; 
Till  those  that  see  not  have  their  sight ; 
Till  all  the  fringes  of  the  night 
Are  lifted,  and  the  long-closed  doors 
Are  wide  for  ever  to  the  Light. 
Spread— the— Light ! 

0  then  shall  dawn  the  golden  days, 

To  which  true  hearts  are  pressing; 

When    earth's    discordant    strains   shall 
blend— 

The  one  true  God  confessing; 


BEES  IN  AMBER  81 

When  Christly  thought  and  Christly  deed 
Shall  bind  each  heart  and  nation, 
In  one  Grand  Brotherhood  of  Men, 
And  one  high  consecration. 

India 

A  land  of  lights  and  shadows  intervolved, 
A  land  of  blazing  sun  and  blackest  night, 
A  fortress  armed,  and  guarded  jealously. 
With  every  portal  barred  against  the  Light. 

A  land  in  thrall  to  ancient  mystic  faiths, 
A  land  of  iron  creeds  and  gruesome  deeds, 
A  land  of  superstitions  vast  and  grim, 
And  all  the  noisome  growths  that  Darkness 
breeds. 

Like  sunny  waves  upon  an  iron-bound  coast, 
The  Light  beats  up  against  the  close-barred 

doors, 
And  seeks  vain  entrance,  yet  beats  on  and  on, 
In  hopeful  faith  which  all  defeat  ignores. 

But— time  shall  come,  when,  like  a  swelling 

tide, 
The  Word  shall  leap  the  barriers,  and  The 

Light 
Shall  sweep  the  land;  and  Faith  and  Love 

and  Hope 
Shall  win  for  Christ  this  stronghold  of  the 

night. 


82  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Livingstone 

To  lift  the  sombre  fringes  of  the  Night, 
To  open  lands  long  darkened  to  the  Light, 
To  heal  grim  wounds,  to  give  the  blind  new 
sight, 
Eight  mightily  wrought  he. 

Forth  to  the  fight  he  fared, 

High  things  and  great  he  dared, 

He  thought  of  all  men  but  himself, 

Himself  he  never  spared. 

He  greatly  loved— 

He  greatly  lived— 

And  died  right  mightily. 

Like  Him  he  served,  he  walked  life 's  troublous 

ways, 
With  heart  undaunted,  and  with  calm,  high 

face, 
And  gemmed  each  day  with  deeds  of  sweetest 
grace ; 
Full  lovingly  wrought  he. 

Forth  to  the  fight  he  fared, 
High  things  and  great  he  dared, 
In  His  Master 's  might,  to  spread  the 

Light, 
Right  lovingly  wrought  he. 
He  greatly  loved— 
He  greatly  lived— 
And  died  right  mightily. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  83 

Like  him  he  served,  he  would  not  turn  aside ; 
Nor  home  nor  friends  could  his  true  heart 

divide ; 
He  served  his  Master,  and  naught  else  beside, 
Right  faithfully  wrought  he. 

Forth  to  the  fight  he  fared, 
High  things  and  great  he  dared, 
In  His  Master's  might,  to  spread  the 

Light, 
Right  faithfully  wrought  he. 
He  greatly  loved— 
He  greatly  lived— 
And  died  right  mightily. 


He  passed  like  light  across  the  darkened  land, 
And  dying,  left  behind  him  this  command, 
"The  door  is  open!     So  let  it  ever  stand I" 
Full  mightily  wrought  he. 

Forth  to  the  fight  he  fared, 

High  things  and  great  he  dared, 

In  His  Master's  might,  to  spread  the 
Light, 

Right  mightily  wrought  he. 

He  greatly  loved— 

He  greatly  lived— 

And  died  right  mightily. 


84  BEES  IN  AMBER 


Livingstone  the  Builder 

With  a  will! 

With  a  will! 
With  a  will  and  surely! 

Without  fail, 

Drive  each  nail, 
Build  iv e  so,  securely! 

The  Pioneer, —the  Undaunted  One, 

Worn    with    long    journeyings    through    the 

Great  Dark  Land, 
Rests  for  a  season  from  his  mighty  labours, 
And  seeks  fresh  vigour  in  a  change  of  toil. 

Labour  is  sweet, 

When  hands  and  hearts  are  willing,— 
Who  truly  works 

Is  God's  own  law  fulfilling. 

With  his  own  hands  he  helps  to  build  a  temple, 
Here,  in  the  wilds,  a  temple  to  his  God, 
Rough-hewn  and  roughly  thatched,  but  still 

a  house 
Of  prayer,  a  holy  place,  and  consecrate 
To  Him  wThose  noblest  temples  are  not  built 
With  hands,  but  in  the  opened  hearts  of  men. 

The  Master  worked, 

With  His  own  hands  expressing 
His  sure  belief 

That  therein  lay  God's  blessing. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  85 


Thus,   as  he   toils,   with   axe,   and  nail,   and 

hammer. 
His  heart  rejoices,  — so  the  Master  worked. 
And  by  His  lowly  toil  for  ever  stamped 
True  labour  with  its  highest  dignity. 

With  a  will! 

With  a  will! 
With  a  will  and  surely! 

Without    fail, 

Drive  each  nail. 
Build  we  so,  securely! 


Livingstone's  Soliloquy 

"My  heart  to-day 
Is  strangely  full  of  home! 
How  is  it 
"With  the  dear  ones  over  there  ? 

Five  years! 

Five  long-drawn  years ! 

And  one  short  moment  is  enough 

To  alter  life's  complexion  for  eternity ! 

Home !     Home !     Home ! 

How  is  it  with  you  all 
At  Home? 

And  you,  my  dearest  one, 

Are  ever  nearer  to  me  than  the  rest! 


80  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Your  body  lies 

Beneath  the  baobab 

In  far  Shapanga; 
But  your  soul  is  ever  nearest 

When  I  need  you  most. 
Where  a  man's  treasure  is 

His  heart  is. 
And  half  my  heart  is  buried  there  with  you, 
And  half  works  on  for  Africa. 

Home  !     Home !     Home ! 

Why  should  such  thought  of  home 

Drag  at  my  heart  to-day  ? 

Why  should  I  longer  roam? 

Why  should  I  not  go  home  ? 
Five  years  of  toilsome  wanderings 

May  claim  a  rest ! 

Nay !    God  knows  best ! 

When  He  sees  well 
He'll  take  me  home  and  give  me  well-earned 
rest. 

The  work  is  not  yet  done. 

This  land  of  Night 
Is  not  yet  fully  opened  to  the  Son 

And  His  fair  Light. 

But— when  the  work  is  done— 
Ah— then!— how  gladly  will  I  go- 
Home  !— Home— Home  !— 

To  rest!" 


BEES  IN  AMBER  87 

Kapiolani 

Where    the    great    green    combers    break    in 

thunder  on  the  barrier  reefs,— 
Where,  unceasing,  sounds  the  mighty  diapason 

of  the  deep,— 
Ringed    in    bursts    of    wild    wave-laughter, 

ringed  in  leagues  of  flying  foam,— 
Long  lagoons  of  softest  azure,  curving  beaches 

white  as  snow, 
Lap  in  sweetness  and  in  beauty  all  the  isles  of 

Chvhyhee. 


Land  more  lovely  sun  ne'er  shone  on  than 
these  isles  of  Owhyhee, 

Spendthrift  Nature's  wTild  profusion  fash- 
ioned them  like  fairy  bowers ; 

Yet  behind— -belowr  the  sweetness,— under- 
neath the  passion-flowers, 

Lurked  grim  deeds,  and  things  of  horror, 
grisly  Deaths,  and  ceaseless  Fears, 

Fears  and  Deaths  that  walked  in  Darkness, 
grisly  Deaths  and  ceaseless  Fears. 


Note. — Kapiolani — pronounced  Kah-pee-o-lah-ny,  with 
slight  accent  on  second  syllable. 
Mauna  Loa — Mona  Lo-ah. 
Kilauea — Kil-o-ee-ah. 
Hale-Mau-Mau — Ha-lee-Mah-oo-Mah-oo. 


88  BEES  IN  AMBER 


On  the  slope  of  Mauna  Loa,  in  the  pit  of 

Kilauea, 
In  the  lake  of  molten  lava,  in  the  sea  of  living 

fire, 
In  the  place  of  Ceaseless  Burnings,   in  her 

home  of  Wrath  and  Terror, 
Dwelt  the  dreadful  goddess  Pele— Pele  of  the 

Lake  of  Fire; 
Pele  of  the  place  of  torment,  Pele  of  the  Lake 

of  Fire. 

In  the  dim  far-off  beginnings,  Pele  flung  the 
islands  up 

From  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  from  the  dark- 
some underworld; 

Built  them  for  a  house  to  dwell  in,  built  them 
for  herself  alone, 

So  she  claimed  them  and  their  people,  claimed 
them  as  her  very  own, 

And  they  feared  her,  and  they  worshipped— 

Pele,  the  Remorseless  One. 

But,  at  times,  when  she  lay  sleeping,  under- 
neath the  lake  of  fire, 

They  forgot  to  do  her  reverence,  they  forgot 
the  fiery  one ; 

Then  in  wrath  the  goddess  thundered  from 
the  Lake  of  Ceaseless  Burnings, 

Flamed  and  thundered  in  her  anger,  till  the 
very  skies  were  red. 

Poured  black  ruin  on  the  island,  shook  it  to 
its  rocky  bed. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  89 


Then  in  fear  the  people  trembled  and  be- 
thought them  of  their  sins, 

And  the  great  high  priest  of  Pele  came  like 
Death  down  Mauna  Loa, 

Came  to  soothe  the  awful  goddess,  came  to 
choose  the  sacrifice, 

Chose  the  fairest  youth  or  maiden,  pointed 
with  a  deadly  finger, 

Led  them  weeping  up  the  mountain,  victims 
to  the  Lake  of  Fire. 

On  the  snowy  beach   of   coral,   youths   and 

maidens  full  of  laughter, 
Flower-bedecked  and  full  of  laughter,  sported 

gaily  in  the  sun ; 
Up  above,  the  slender  palm-trees  swung  and 

shivered  in  the  trade-wind, 
All    around    them    flowers    and    spices,— red 

hibiscus,  sweet   pandanus, 
And  behind,  the  labouring  mountain  groaned 

and  growled  unceasingly. 

"Sea  and  sunshine, 

Care  is  moonshine, 
All  our  hearts  are  light  with  laughter. 

We  are  free 

As  sun  and  sea, 
What  care  ice  for  what  comes  after?" 

Bride. 
"Life  icas  sweet  before  Love  found  her, 
In  his  faery  bowers. 


90  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Life  is  sweeter, 
And  completer, 
Since  he  found  her, 
There,  and  crowned  her 
With  his  fadeless  flowers." 

Bridegroom. 
"Love  sought  long  before  he  found  her, 
Ne'er  was  love  like  ours! 
Long  he  sought  her, 
E'er  he  caught  her. 
But  he  found  her 
There,  and  bound  her 
With  his  fadeless  flowers." 

"Gaily  sporting, 

Pleasure  courting, 
Nought  know  we  of  care  or  sorrow. 

We  are  free 

As  sun  and  sea, 
What  care  we  what  comes  to-morrow  f" 

Louder  still  and  louder,  Pele  roars  within  her 

lake  of  fire, 
And  the  youths  and  maidens  trembling  look 

in  fear  up  Mauna  Loa, 
Dreading  sight  of  that  grim  figure  stalking 

down  the  mountain  side; 
For  when  Pele  claims  her  victims  none  the 

summons  may  avoid. 
Pele  calls  for  whom  she  chooses— whom  she 

chooses  goes,— and  dies. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  91 

See  !  He  comes !  They  start  in  terror.   There, 

along  the  mountain  side, 
Death   comes  stalking,  slowly,   surely,— Pele 

must  be  satisfied. 
Which  among  them  will  he  summon,  with  his 

dreadful  pointing  finger? 
All  their  hearts  become  as  water,  all  their 

faces  blanch  with  fear, 
Deaths  they  suffer  in  the  waiting,  while  dread 

Death  draws  near. 

Now  he  stands  in  dreadful  menace,  seeking 

with  a  baleful  eye 
For   the   sweetest   and  the    fairest— for    the 

meetest  sacrifice. 
"Choose,   0   choose !"— they   cry   in    terror; 

* '  choose  your  victim  and  be  gone, 
For  we  each  die  deaths  while  waiting,   till 

dread  Pele's  choice  be  known! 
Choose  your  victim,   Priest  of  Pele,   choose 

your  victim  and  be  gone!M 

Slowly  points  the  dreadful  finger,  marks  the 

newly-wedded  bride; 
All  the  rest,  save  one,  fall  from  her,  as  the 

living  from  the  dead. 
From  the  first  of  time's  beginnings  Pele  ne'er 

has  been  gainsayed ; 
Pele  chooses  whom  she  chooses,  each  and  all 

the  choice  abide, 
For  the  common  good  and  safety,— Pele  must 

be  satisfied! 


92  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Still  the  mountain  reels  and  shudders,  still 

the  awful  thunders  peal, 
Like  a  snake  the  ruthless  finger  holds  them 

all  in  terror  still; 
One  is  there  whose  life  is  broken,  parted  from 

his  chosen  bride, 
But  the  threatening  finger,  heedless  of  the 

lives  it  may  divide, 
Lights  upon  a  tiny  maiden,— Pele  must  he 

satisfied! 

Slow,  the  grim  high-priest  of  Pele  turns  to 
climb  the  mountain  side; 

Slow,  the  victims  turn  and  follow,— Pele 
must  be  satisfied. 

And  the  rest  shrink,  dumb  and  helpless,  dar- 
ing not  to  lift  an  eye, 

And  beyond,  the  labouring  mountain  cracks 
and  belches  living  fires, 

Till  the  island  reels  and  shudders  at  dread 
Pele's  agonies. 

But   a    greater    one    than    Pele   walked   the 

mountain  side  that  day;  — 
To   them,    climbing,    dumb    and    dim-eyed— 

like  a  flash  of  heavenly  flame, 
SwTift    and    bright    as    saving    angel,    fair 

Kapiolani  came, 
Swiftly  as  a  saving  angel,   gleaming  like  a 

heavenly  flame, 
Thirsting    like    a     sword    for    battle,     fair 

Kapiolani  came. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  9S 

Radiant  with  the  faith  of  martyrs,  all  aglow 
with  new-born  zeal, 

Burning  to  release  the  people  from  the  bond- 
age and  the  thrall, 

From  the  deadly  thrall  of  Pele,  from  the  ever- 
threatening  doom, 

From  the  everlasting  menace,  from  the  awful 
lake  of  fire, 

Like  a  bright  avenging  angel  fair  Kapiolani 
came! 

"Hear  me  now,  you  priest  of  Pele,  and  ye 

men  of  Owhyhee ! 
Hearken!  ye  who  cringe  and  tremble,  at  the 

sound  of  Kilauea, 
Fearful  of  the  wrath  of  Pele,  fearful  of  the 

lake  of  fire!— 
Priest,  I  say  there  is  no  Pele!    Pele  is  not  — 

never  was! 
Pele  lives  but  in  your  legends— there  is  only 

one  true  God  ! ' ' 

1  %  Cursed,  thrice  accursed,  you  who  thus  great 

Pele  do  defy, 
Here,  upon  her  sacred  mountain,  of  a  surety 

you  shall  die! 
Pele,  mighty   Pele,   Vengeance!     Strike   her 

with  thy  dreadful  doom! 
So   let    every   scoffer   perish!— Pele !      Pele! 

Pele !    come  ! ' ' 
And     Kapiolani     answered—"  Pele !       Pele ! 

Pele  !    come ! ' ' 


94  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Loud  the  mountain  roared  and  thundered; 

shuddered  all  who  heard  and  saw, 
Dauntless   stood   Kapiolani,    dauntless    with 

her  faithful  few. 
"Come!"   she    cried    again.     "Come,    Pele! 

Smite  me  with  thy  dreadful  doom ! 
I   am   waiting,   mighty   Pele!— Pele!     Pele! 

Pele!    come!,, 
And   the   mountain   roared   and   thundered; 

—but  the  goddess  did  not  come. 

"Hearken,   Priest!     You  have   deceived  us. 

All  your  life  has  been  a  lie, 
Black  your  heart  is,  red  your  hands  are,  with 

the  blood  of  those  who  die. 
All  these  years  you  have  misled  us  with  your 

awful  threats  of  doom. 
Now  it  ends !  I  do  defy  you,  and  your  goddess 

I  defy. 
Pele,    is    not,    never    has    been.      All    your 

worship  is  a  lie. 

I  will  climb  your  sacred  mountain.     I  will 

dare  your  lake  of  fire. 
I  will  eat  your  sacred  berries.     I  will  dare 

your  goddess  there, 
There  and  then  to  wreak  her  vengeance,  then 

and  there  to  come  in  fire, 
And  with  awful  burnings  end  me,  now  and 

for  eternity; 
But  if  Pele  does  not  end  me,  then  her  worship 

ends  this  day." 


BEES  IX  AMBER  95 

Then  the  great  high  priest  of  Pele  turned  to 

fiery  Kilauea. 
4 'Come!"  he  said,  "the  goddess  calls  you!M 

—  and  they  climbed  the  mountain  side, 
Up  the  slopes  of  Mauna  Loa,  to  the  hell  of 

Kilauea, 
ArYith  the  bright  blue  sky  above  them,  with 

the  blazing  sun  above  them, 
While  the  mountain  shook  beneath  them,  and 

its  head  was  wrapped  in  fire. 

Fearful,  hopeful,  all  the  people  crept  along 
the  shaking  path, 

Hardly  breathing  at  their  daring,  thus  to 
brave  dread  Pele's  wrath, 

Bending  low  lest  she  should  see  them,  breath- 
ing soft  lest  she  should  hear, 

Certain  that  Kapiolani  would  be  sacrificed 
that  day, 

To  the  vengeance  of  the  goddess,  to  the  anger 
of  Pele. 


'As  little  child 
On  mother's  breast, 
0  rest,  my  heart, 
Have  rest! 
Who  rests  on  Him 
Is  surely  blest. 
So  rest,  my  heart, 
Have  rest! 


96  BEES  IN  AMBER 

As  warrior  hold 
His  foes  among, 
Be  strong,  my  heart, 
Be  strong! 
Who  rests  on  Him 
Shall  ne'er  go  wrong. 
Be  strong,  my  heart, 
Be  strong  !n 

Thus,  Kapiolani,  dauntless,  singing  softly  as 
she  went, 

With  a  face  as  calm  and  fearless  as  a  child  on 
pleasure  bent, 

Climbed  the  side  of  Mauna  Loa,  to  the  dread- 
ful lake  of  fire, 

While  the  mountain  shook  and  thundered, 
while  the  people  blanched  and  shuddered, 

Climbed  to  Hale-Mau-Mau,— to  the  dreadful 
lake  of  fire. 

All  the  people  waited  trembling,  stood  afar 

off  pale  and  trembling, 
While  Kapiolani,  fearless,  climbed  up  to  the 

lake  of  fire, 
With  the  fiery  glow  all  round  her,   with  a 

heavenly  light  about  her. 
Shining  with  a  radiance  brighter  than  since 

time  began  had  shone 
From  the  Lake  of  Ceaseless  Burnings,  from 

the  dreadful  lake  of  fire. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  97 

"Here,"   she  cried,  "I  pluck  your  berries, 

Pele,  — and  I  give  you  none! 
See!    I  eat  your  sacred  berries,  Pele,— and  I 

give  you  none! 
Pele,  here  I  break  your  tabus!     Come,  with 

all  your  dreadful  fires! 
Burn  me,  Pele!     I  defy  you!— Pele!     Pele! 

Pele !    come  ! ' ' 
Come  now,  Pele,  or  for  ever  own  that  you  are 

overcome ! 

"Pele  comes  not.     Is  she  sleeping?     Is  she 

wandering  to-day? 
Is  she  busy   with  her   burnings?     Has   the 

goddess  nought  to  say? 
Hear  me,  friends!  — There  is  no  Pele!     One 

true  God  alone  there  is. 
His,    this   mountain!     His,    these   burnings! 

You,  and  I,  and  all  things,— His! 
Goodness,     Mercy,     Loving-Kindness,     Life 

Eternal— all  are  His! 

"From  this  day,  let  no  man  tremble,  when  he 

feels  the  mountain  shake ! 
From  this  day,  no  man  or  maiden  shall  be 

killed  for  Pele's  sake! 
From  this  day,  we  break  the  thraldom  of  the 

dreadful  lake  of  fire. 
From  this  day,  we  pass  for  ever  from  the 

scourge  of  Pele's  rod.— 
From  this  day,  Thou,  Lord  Jehovah,  be  our 

one  and  only  God!M 


98  BEES  IN  AMBER 

They  Come! 

From  North  and  South,  and  East  and  West, 

They  come! 
The  sorely  tried,  the  much  oppressed, 
Their  Faith  and  Love  to  manifest, 

They  come! 
They  come  to  tell  of  work  well  done, 
They  come  to  tell  of  kingdoms  won, 
To  worship  at  the  Great  White  Throne, 

They  come! 
In  a  noble  consecration, 
With  a  sound  of  jubilation, 

They  come!     They  come! 

Through  tribulations  and  distress, 

They  come! 
Through  perils  great  and  bitterness, 
Through  persecutions  pitiless, 

They  come! 
They  come  by  paths  the  martyrs  trod, 
They  come  from  underneath  the  rod, 
Climbing  through  darkness  up  to  God, 

They  come! 
Out  of  mighty  tribulation, 
With  a  sound  of  jubilation, 

They  come!     They  come! 

From  every  land  beneath  the  sun, 

They  come! 
To  tell  of  mighty  victories  won; 
Unto  the  Father  through  the  Son, 

They  come! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  99 

They  come— the  victors  in  the  fight, 
They  come— the  blind  restored  to  sight, 
From  deepest  Darkness  into  Light; 

They  come! 
In  a  holy  exaltation, 
With  a  sound  of  jubilation, 

They  come!     They  come! 


Processionals 

North 

We  come  from  the  gloom  of  the  shadowy  trail 

Out  away  on  the  fringe  of  the  Night, 
Where  no  man  could  tell,  when  the  darkness 
fell, 
If  his  eyes  would  behold  the  light. 
To  -the  -Night,  — 
To-the-Night,— 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  the 
Night,- 

Came— the— Light, 
Came— the— Light, 
Came  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light. 

There    are    wanderers   still,    without   ever    a 

guide, 
Out  there  on  the  fringe  of  the  Night, 
They  are  bond  and  blind,— to  their  darkness 

resigned, 


100  BEES  IN  AMBER 

With  never  a  wish  for  the  Light. 
To— their— Night,  — 
To— their— Night,— 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  their 
Night, 

Take— the— Light! 
Take— the-Light! 
Take  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light ! 

South 

We  come  from  the  land  of  the  blazing  sun, 
From    the    land    that    was    blacker    than 
night,— 
From  the  white-hot  sand  of  the  Great  Dark 
Land, 
Where  Might  was  the  only  Right. 
To— the— Night,— 
To-the— Night,— 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  the 
Night, 

Came— the— Light, 
Came— the— Light, 
Came  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light. 

There  are  sorrows  still,  there  is  darkness  still, 
There  are  still  gross  wrongs  to  set  right ; 

There  are  grim  black  stains,  there  are  peoples 
in  chains, 
To  be  loosed  from  the  grip  of  the  Night. 


BEES  IX  AMBER  101 

To— their— Night,— 
To— their— Night,— 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  their 
Night, 
Take— the— Light! 
Take— the— Light! 
Take  the   Wonder   and   the  Glory  of   the 
Light ! 

East 

We  come  from  the  East,  from  the  glowing 
East, 
Where  the  Past,  with  its  hand  of  ice, 
Still  reaches  across  through  its  ages  of  loss, 
And  still  holds  the  land  like  a  vice. 
To— the— Night, — 
To  -  the— Night, - 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  the 
Night- 
Came— the— Light, 
Came— the— Light, 
Came  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light. 

0,    the    sorrowful    ones    of    the    caste-bound 
lands, 
How  they  long  for  the  wider  way ! 
How  they  sigh  in  the  gloom  of  their  close- 
barred  tomb 
For  the  Light  of  the  Coming  Day ! 


102  BEES  IN  AMBER 

To— their— Night,— 
To— their -Night,  - 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  their 
Night, 

Take- the— Light, 
Tate-the-Light! 
Take  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light ! 

West 

We  come  from  the  Isles,  from  the  Western 
Isles, 
From  the  isles  of  the  sunny  seas,— 
Where  the  smiles  and  the  wiles,  with  which 
Nature  beguiles, 
Are  but  shrouds  for  her  tragedies. 
To— the— Night, 
To— the— Night, 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  the 
Night- 
Came— the— Light, 
Came— the— Light, 
Came  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light. 

There  is  Darkness  more  deadly  than  Death 
itself, 
There  is  Blindness  beyond  that  of  sight; 
There   are   souls   fast  bound   in   the   depths 
profound 
Of  unconscious  and  heedless  Night. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  103 

To-their— Night,— 
To— their— Night,— 
To  the  darkness  and  the  sorrow  of  their 
Night, 
Take— the— Light ! 
Take— the— Light ! 
Take  the  Wonder  and  the  Glory  of  the 
Light! 

Faith 

Lord,  give  me  faith  !— to  live  from  day  to  day, 
With  tranquil  heart  to  do  my  simple  part, 
And,  with  my  hand  in  Thine,  just  go  Thy  way. 

Lord,    give   me   faith!— to   trust,    if   not    to 

know ; 
With  quiet  mind  in  all  things  Thee  to  find, 
And,  child-like,  go  where  Thou  wouldst  have 

me  go. 

Lord,  give  me  faith!— to  leave  it  all  to  Thee, 
The  future  is  Thy  gift,  I  would  not  lift 
The  vail  Thy  Love  has  hung  'twixt  it  and  me. 

"I  Will!" 

Say  once  again  Thy  sweet  "I  will!" 

In  answTer  to  my  prayers. 
"Lord,  if  Thou  wilt!"— 

-"I  will! 

Rise  up  above  thy  cares !" 


104  BEES  IN  AMBER 

A  Little  Te  Deum  or  the 

Commonplace 

A  Fragment 

With  hearts  responsive 
And  enfranchised  eyes, 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord,— 
For  all  things  beautiful,  and  good,  and  true ; 
For  things  that  seemed  not  good  yet  turned 

to  good; 
For  all  the  sweet  compulsions  of  Thy  will 
That  chased,  and  tried,  and  wrought  us  to 

Thy  shape; 
For  things  unnumbered  that  we  take  of  right, 
And  value  first  when  first  they  are  withheld ; 
For  light  and  air ;  sweet  sense  of  sound  and 

smell ; 
For  ears  to  hear  the  heavenly  harmonies ; 
For  eyes  to  see  the  unseen  in  the  seen; 
For  vision  of  The  Worker  in  the  work; 
For  hearts  to  apprehend  Thee  everywhere ; 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  all  the  wonders  of  this  wondrous  world  ;— 
The  pure  pearl  splendours  of  the  coming  day, 
The    breaking     east,— the    rosy    flush,— the 

Dawn,— 
For  that  bright  gem  in  morning's  coronal, 
That   one  lone  star   that  gleams   above  the 

glow; 


BEES  IN  AMBER  105 

For  that  high  glory  of  the  impartial  sun,— 

The  golden  noonings  big  with  promised  life; 

The  matchless  pageant  of  the  evening  skies, 

The  wide-flung  gates,— the  gleams  of  Para- 
dise,— 

Supremest  visions  of  Thine  artistry; 

The  sweet,  soft  gloaming,  and  the  friendly 
stars ; 

The  vesper  stillness,  and  the  creeping  shades; 

The  moon's  pale  majesty;  the  pulsing  dome, 

AVherein  we  feel  Thy  great  heart  throbbing 
near; 

For  sweet  laborious  days  and  restful  nights; 

For  work  to  do,  and  strength  to  do  the  work ; 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  those  first  tiny,  prayerful-folded  hands 
That   pierce   the    winter's   crust,   and  softly 

bring 
Life  out  of  death,  the  endless  mystery;  — 
For  all  the  first  sweet  flushings  of  the  Spring 
The  greening  earth,  the  tender  heavenly  blue 
The  rich  brown  furrows  gaping  for  the  seed 
For  all  Thy  grace  in  bursting  bud  and  leaf,— 
The  bridal  sweetness  of  the  orchard  trees, 
Rose-tender  in  their  coming  f ruitf ulness ; 
The    fragrant    snow-drifts    flung    upon    the 

breeze ; 
The  grace  and  glory  of  the  fruitless  flowers, 
Ambrosial  beauty  their  reward  and  ours; 
For    hedgerows    sweet    with    hawthorn    and 

wildrose ; 


106  BEES  IN  AMBER 

For  meadows  spread  with  gold  and  gemmed 

with  stars; 
For  every  tint  of  every  tiniest  flower; 
For  every  daisy  smiling  to  the  sun ; 
For  every  bird  that  builds  in  joyous  hope; 
For  every  lamb  that  frisks  beside  its  dam ; 
For  every  leaf  that  rustles  in  the  wind ; 
For  spiring  poplar,  and  for  spreading  oak ; 
For  queenly  birch,  and  lofty  swaying  elm, 
For  the  great  cedar's  benedictory  grace; 
For  earth's  ten  thousand  fragrant  incenses,— 
Sweet    altar-gifts   from   leaf  and   fruit  and 

flower ; 
For  every  wondrous  thing  that  greens  and 

grows ; 
For  wide-spread  cornlands,— billowing  golden 

seas; 
For  rippling  stream,  and  white-laced  waterfall ; 
For   purpling   mountains;    lakes   like    silver 

shields ; 
For  white-piled  clouds  that  float  against  the 

blue ; 
For  tender  green  of  far-off  upland  slopes; 
For  fringing  forests  and  far-gleaming  spires; 
For  those  white  peaks,  serene  and  grand  and 

still; 
For  that  deep  sea— a  shallow  to  Thy  love; 
For  round  green  hills,  earth's  full  benignant 

breasts ; 
For  sun-chased  shadows  flitting  o'er  the  plain ; 
For  gleam  and  gloom;  for  all  life's  counter 

change* 


BEES  IN  AMBER  107 

For  hope  that  quickens  under  darkening  skies ; 
For  all  we  see;  for  all  that  underlies,— 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  that  sweet  impulse  of  the  coming  Spring, 
For  ripening  Summer,  and  the  harvesting; 
For  all  the  rich  Autumnal  glories  spread,— 
The  flaming  pageant  of  the  ripening  woods; 
The  fiery  gorse,  the  heather-purpled  hills; 
The  rustling  leaves  that  fly  before  the  wind, 
And  lie  below  the  hedgerows  whispering; 
For  meadows  silver- white  with  hoary  dew; 
For  sheer  delight  of  tasting  once  again 
That  first  crisp  breath  of  winter  in  the  air ; 
The    pictured   pane;    the   new    white    world 

without ; 
The  sparkling  hedgerow's  witchery  of  lace; 
The  soft  white  flakes  that  fold  the  sleeping 

earth ; 
The  cold  without,  the  cheerier  warmth  within ; 
For  red-heart  roses  in  the  winter  snows ; 
For  all  the  flower  and  fruit  of  Christmas-tide ; 
For  all  the  glowing  heart  of  Christmas-tide ; 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  all  Thy  ministries,— 
For  morning  mist,  and  gently-falling  dew ; 
For  summer  rains,  for  winter  ice  and  snow; 
For  whispering  wind  and  purifying  storm ; 
For  the  reft  clouds  that  show  the  tender  blue ; 
For  the  forked  flash  and  long  tumultuous  roll ; 


108  BEES  IN  AMBER 

For  mighty  rains  that  wash  the  dim  earth 

clean ; 
For  the  sweet  promise  of  the  seven-fold  bow ; 
For  the  soft  sunshine,  and  the  still  calm  night ; 
For  dimpled  laughter  of  soft  summer  seas ; 
For  latticed  splendour  of  the  sea-borne  moon ; 
For    gleaming    sands,    and    granite-frontled 

cliffs ; 
For  flying  spume,  and  waves  that  whip  the 

skies ; 
For  rushing  gale,  and  for  the  great  glad  calm ; 
For  Might  so  mighty,  and  for  Love  so  true, 
With  equal  mind, 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  maiden  sweetness,  and  for  strength  of 

men; 
For  love's  pure  madness  and  its  high  estate; 
For  parentage— man's  nearest  reach  to  Thee; 
For  kinship,  sonship,  friendship,  brotherhood 
Of  men— one  Father— one  great  family; 
For  glimpses  of  the  greater  in  the  less ; 
For  touch  of  Thee  in  wife  and  child  and  friend  ; 
For  noble  self-denying  motherhood ; 
For  saintly  maiden  lives  of  rare  perfume; 
For  little  pattering  feet  and  crooning  songs; 
For  children's  laughter,  and  sweet  wells  of 

truth ; 
For   sweet    child-faces   and   the   sweet   wise 

tongues ; 
For  childhood's  faith  that  lifts  us  near  to 

Thee 


BEES  IN  AMBER  109 

And  bows  us  with  our  own  disparity; 

For    childhood's    sweet    unconscious    beauty 

sleep ; 
For  all  that  childhood  teaches  us  of  Thee ; 

^Ye  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  doubts  that  led  us  to  the  larger  trust ; 

For  ills  to  conquer;  for  the  love  that  fights; 

For  that  strong  faith  that  vanquished  axe 
and  flame 

And  gave  us  Freedom  for  our  heritage ; 

For  clouds  and  darkness,  and  the  still,  small 
voice ; 

For  sorrows  bearing  fruit  of  nobler  life ; 

For  those  sore  strokes  that  broke  us  at  Thy 
feet; 

For  peace  in  strife ;  for  gain  in  seeming  loss ; 

For  every  loss  that  wrought  the  greater  gain ; 

For  that  sweet  juice  from  bitterness  out- 
pressed  ; 

For  all  this  swTeet,  strange  paradox  of  life; 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  friends  above ;  for  friends  still  left  below ; 

For  the  rare  links  invisible  between ; 

For   Thine  unsearchable   greatness;   for   the 

vails 
Between  us  and  the  things  we  may  not  know ; 
For  those  high  times  when  hearts  take  wing 

and  rise 
And  float  secure  above  earth's  mysteries; 
For  that  wide,  open  avenue  of  prayer, 


110  BEES  IN  AMBER 

All  radiant  with  Thy  glorious  promises ; 
For  sweet  hearts  tuned  to  noblest  charity ; 
For  great  hearts  toiling  in  the  outer  dark ; 
For  friendly  hands  stretched  out  in  time  ol 

need ; 
For  every  gracious  thought  and  word  and 

deed; 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For    songbird    answering    song    on    topmost 

bough ; 
For  myriad  twitterings  of  the  simpler  folk ; 
For  that  sweet  lark  that  carols  up  the  sky ; 
For  that  low  fluting  on  the  summer  night ; 
For  distant  bells  that  tremble  on  the  wind ; 
For  great  round  organ  tones  that  rise  and  fall, 
Entwined     with    earthly    voices    tuned    to 

heaven, 
And  bear  our  hearts  above  the  high-arched 

roof; 
For  Thy  great  voice  that  dominates  the  whole, 
And   shakes   the   heavens,    and   silences    the 

earth; 
For  hearts  alive  to  earth's  sweet  minstrelsies; 
For  souls  attuned  to  heavenly  harmonies ; 
For  apprehension,  and  for  ears  to  hear,— 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  that  supremest  token  of  Thy  Love,— 
Thyself  made  manifest  in  human  flesh; 
For  that  pure  life  beneath  the  Syrian  sky— 


BEES  IN  AMBER  ill 

The  humble  toil,  the  sweat,  the  bench,   the 

saw, 
The   nails    well-driven,   and   the   work   well- 
done; 
For  all  its  vast  expansions;  for  the  stress 
Of  those  three  mighty  years; 
For  all  He  bore  of  our  humanity; 
His    hunger,    thirst,    His    homelessness    and 

want, 
His   weariness   that   longed   for   well-earned 

rest; 
For  labour's  high  ennoblement  through  Him, 
Who  laboured  with  His  hands  for  daily  bread ; 
For  Lazarus,  Mary,  Martha,  Magdalene, 
For  Nazareth  and  Bethany ;— not  least 
For  that  dark  hour  in  lone  Gethsemane; 
For  that  high  cross  upraised  on  Calvary; 
The   broken    seals,  — the    rolled-back   stone— 

The  Way, 
For  ever  opened  through  His  life  in  death ; 
For  that  brief  glimpse  vouchsafed  within  the 

vail; 
For  all  His  gracious  life ;  and  for  His  Death, 
With    low-bowed    heads    and    hearts    impas- 

sionate, 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  all  life's  beauties,  and  their  beauteous 

growth ; 
For  Nature's  laws  and  Thy  rich  providence; 
For  all  Thy  perfect  processes  of  life ; 
For  the  minute  perfection  of  Thy  work, 


112  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Seen  and  unseen,  in  each  remotest  part ; 
For  faith,  and  works,  and  gentle  charity ; 
For  all  that  makes  for  quiet  in  the  world ; 
For  all  that  lifts  man  from  his  common  rut ; 
For  all  that  knits  the  silken  bond  of  peace ; 
For  all  that  lifts  the  fringes  of  the  night, 
And  lights  the  darkened  corners  of  the  earth ; 
For  every  broken  gate  and  sundered  bar ; 
For  every  wide-flung  window  of  the  soul ; 
For  that   Thou   bearest  all   that   Thou  hast 
made; 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

For  perfect  childlike  confidence  in  Thee; 

For  childlike  glimpses  of  the  life  to  be ; 

For  trust  akin  to  my  child 's  trust  in  me ; 

For  hearts  at  rest  through  confidence  in  Thee ; 

For  hearts  triumphant  in  perpetual  hope ; 

For  hope  victorious  through  past  hopes  ful- 
filled; 

For  mightier  hopes  born  of  the  things  we 
know ; 

For   faith   born  of   the  things  we  may  not 
know ; 

For  hope  of  powers  increased  ten  thousand 
fold; 

For  that  last  hope  of  likeness  to  Thyself, 

When  hope  shall  end  in  glorious  certainty ; 
—  With  quickened  hearts 
That  find  Thee  everywhere, 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  113 

Policeman  X 

If  He  Would  but  Dare 

I  stood,  unseen,  within  a  sumptous  room, 
Where  one  clothed  all  in  white  sat  silently. 
So  sweet  his  presence  that  a  pure  soft  light 
Rayed  from  him,  and  I  saw— most  wondrous 

sight!— 
The  Love  of  God  shrined  in  the  flesh  once 

more, 
And  glowing  softly  like  a  misted  sun. 
His  back  was  towards  me.     Had  I  seen  his 

face 
Methought  I  must  have  fallen.     I  was  wrong. 
The  door  flung  wide.    With  hasty  step 
Came  one  in  royal  robes  and  all  the  pride 
And  pomp  of  majesty,  and  on  his  head 
A  helmet  with  an  eagle  poised  for  flight. 
He  stood  amazed  at  sight  of  him  in  white, 
His  lips  apart  in  haughty  questioning. 
But  no  words  came.     Breathless,  he  raised 

his  hand 
And  gave  salute  as  to  a  mightier  lord, 

Note. — This  was  written  in  1898,  at  the  time  of  the 
Tzar's  Rescript  to  the  Powers  suggesting  a  Peace 
Conference  with  a  view  to  the  lightening  of  the 
ever-growing  burden  of  arms. 

The  possibilities  have  changed  their  faces,  but 
at  heart  the  great  problem  remains  much  the 
same.  And  above  all,  the  great  fact  remains  that 
if  Great  Britain,  Germany,  Russia  and  the  United 
States  joined  hands  for  a  World  Peace,  they 
could  ensure  it.  Germany  is  still  mistrustful. 
On  her  lies  a  great  responsibility. 


114  BEES  IN  AMBER 

And  doffed  his  helm,  and  stood.    And  in  his 

eyes  I  saw 
The  reflex  glory  of  his  Master's  face. 

The  Master  spoke.     His  voice  so  soft  and 

sweet 
Thrilled  my  heart's  core  and  shook  me  where 
I  stood,— 
"Time  runs  apace.     The  New  Time  is  at 

hand. 
Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?    It  rests  with 
Thee." 
In  dumb  amaze  the  other  shook  his  head. 
"Thy  brother  of  the  North  has  cast  his  lot 
For  peace.     Alone  he  cannot  compass  it. 
Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?    It  rests  with 
Thee." 
Again  the  other  shook  his  head  amazed, 
But  never  swerved  a  hair's  breadth  in  his  gaze. 
"Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?    Join  hands 

with  him, 
Thy  Northern  brother,  with  the  Western 

Isles, 
And  with  their  brethren  of  the  FurtherWest, 
And  Peace  shall  reign  to  Earth's  remotest 
bound." 
And  still  the  other  shook  his  head  amazed. 
"Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?    Millions  of 

lives 
Are  in  thy  hand,  women  and  men  and  those 
My  little  ones.    Their  souls  are  mine.    Their 
lives 


BEES  IN  AMBER  115 

Are  in  thy  hand.     Of  thee  I  shall  require 

them. 
Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?" 

uIam  but  one, ' ' 
The  other  answered  with  reluctant  tongue. 
"Thou  art  The  one  and  so  I  come  to  thee. 
For  Peace  or  War  the  scales  are  in  thy  hand. 
As  thou  decidest  noiv,  so  shall  it  be. 
But,— as  thou  say  est  now,  so  be  it 
With  thee— then. 

Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?    Nay— look!—  " 
And  at  the  word— where  stood  the  wall  — a 

space ; 
And  at  their  feet,  like  mighty  map  unrolled,— 
The  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  and  every  king- 
dom 
Groaned  with  the  burden  of  its  armour-plate. 
And  the  weight  grew  till  man  was  crushed 

beneath, 
And  lost  his  manhood  and  became  a  cog 
To  roll  along  the  great  machine  of  war. 
And,   as   he    watched,    the    War-Lord's   eyes 

flamed  fire, 
His  nostrils  panted  like  a  mettled  steed's. 
This  was   the  game  of  games  he  knew  and 

loved, 
And  every  fibre  of  his  soul  was  knit 
To  see  what  passed. 

Then,— in   a   sun-white   land. 
Where    a    great    sea    poured    out    through 
narrow  gates 


116  BEES  IX  AMBER 

To  meet  a  greater,— came  the  clang  of  arms, 
And  drew  the  nations  like  a  tocsin  peal, 
Till  all  the  sun-white  sands  ran  red.  and  earth 
Sweat  blood,  and  writhed  in  fiery  ashes,  and 
Grew  sick  with  all  the  reek  and  stench  of  war, 
And   heaven    drew   back   behind   the   battle- 
clouds. 
And  ever,  through  the  clamour  of  the  strife, 
I  heard  the  ceaseless  wailing  of  a  child. 
And  the  sobbing,  sobbing,  sobbing,  endless 
Sobbing  of  a  reft  and  broken  woman;— 
And  the  hoarse  whisper  of  the  AYar-Lord's 
voice,— 

"Britain  fights  once  again  for  Barbary 
Lest  others  occupy  to  her  undoing. 
And  Italy  and  Greece  and  Turkey  join, 
To  beat  back  France  and  Spain.' ' 
Again  I  saw,— 
Where    legions    marched    and    wound    'mid 

snowy  peaks. 
And  came  upon  a  smiling  vine-clad  land. 
And  filled  it  with  the  reek  and  stench  of  war. 
The  hoarse  voice  spoke.— 

"The  provinces  she  stole 
And  lost,  Austria  takes  back/' 
Again  I  saw,— 
Where   white-capped   hosts   crept   swiftly   to 

the  straits 
Twixt  old  and  new,  and  drenched  the  land 

with  blood. 
And  filled  it  with  the  reek  and  stench  of  war. 
The  AVar-Lord  spoke,— 


BEES  IX  AMBER  117 

'"Despite  his  love  of  peace. 
Our   brother  of  the  North  has 

seized  his  chance. 
And  got  his  heart's  desire." 
Again  I  saw,— 
Where    legions    poured    through    the    eternal 

snows. 
And  legions  swept  o'er  every  sea  to  meet 
Their  long-expected  onslaught,  and  the  dead 
Were  piled  in  mountains,  and  the  snows  ran 

red. 
The  War-Lord  spoke.— 

'"Up.  Britain,  up!     Strike  home! 
Or  drop  your  rod  of  Empire  in  the 

dust  — 
One  of  you  dies  this  day." 
Again  I  saw,— 

Beneath  us.  legions  swarming  to  the  West. 
Devouring  kingdoms  till  they  reached  the  sea. 
And  filling  all  the  lands  with  blood  and  fire. 
The  War-Lord  gazed,  with  eyes   that  blazed 

and  flamed. 
And  panted  like  a  soul  in  torment.  —  "Mine ! 

All  these  are  mine  !" 
"Thine,  sayest  thou?— Thine  now. 
When  thou  slialt  stand  before  me — th< 
I  sJtall  require  them,  of  thee.91 
—  Thus  the  voice 
Of  Him  who  sat  and  gazed  with  sorrowing  face. 
While  all  the  earth  beneath  us  reeked  of  war. 
And    heaven    grew    dim    behind    the    battle- 
clouds. 


118  BEES  IN  AMBER 

And  ever,  through  the  clamour  of  the  strife, 
I  heard  the  ceaseless  wailing  of  a  child, 
And  the  sobbing,  sobbing,  sobbing,  endless 
Sobbing  of  a  reft  and  broken  woman. 

"Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?" 
A  two-edged  sword 

Could  cut  no  sharper  than  the  gentle  voice 
Of  Him  who  bowed  with  sorrow  at  the  sight 
Of  man  destroying  man  for  sake  of  gain. 
I  waited,  breathless,  for  the  warrior's  word. 
But  no  word  came.  His  heart  was  with  his  men. 
"Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?  Look  yet 
again!" 
And  at  their  feet,  like  mighty  map  unrolled, 
Lay  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth— at  peace. 
The    glad    earth   smiled   beneath    a    smiling 

heaven, 
And  brought  forth  fruit  for  all  her  children  's 

needs. 
The  desert  lands  had  blossomed,  and  the  earth 
Was  large  enough  for  all.    Her  voice  came  up, 
A  softly-rounded  murmur  of  content, 
Like  bees  that  labour  gladly  on  the  comb. 
The  reign  of  Peace,— and  yet  an  army  lay 
Couchant  and  watchful,  ready  for  the  strife 
If    strife    need   be,— the    strife    of    quelling 

strife,— 
An  army  culled  in  part  from  all  the  lands. 
Owning  no  master  but  the  public  weal, 
And  prompt  to  quench  the  first  red  spark  of 

war. 
Even  as  we  watched,  a  frontier  turmoil  rose, 


BEES  IN  AMBER  119 

And  therewith  rose  the  army,  and  the  fire 
Died  out  while  scarce  begun.    The  smoke  of  it 
Was  scarcely  seen,   the  noise   scarce  heard; 

for  all 
The  lands,  sore-spent  with  war,  had  welcomed 

Peace, 

And  bowed  to  mightier  forces  than  their  own ; 

Men  cast  aside  their  armour  and  their  arms, 

And   lived   men's   lives    and    were   no   more 

machines. 

"Wars  shall  there  be,  indeed,  till  that  last 

war 
That  shall  wage  war  on  War  and  sweep  the 

earth 
Of  all  war-ivagers  and  of  all  mankind." 
So  spake  the  voice  and  ceased.     And  still  we 

gazed,— 
A  great  white  building,  on  its  topmost  tower 
A   great  wThite   flag,    proclaimed   a   World's 

Tribunal 
For  the  righting  of  the  nations'  wrongs. 
And  that  great  army  answered  its  behests 
And  owned  allegiance  to  no  other  head. 
Peace  reigned  triumphant.     On  the  quiet  air 
I  heard  the  merry  laughter  of  the  child, 
And  the  great  sigh  of  gratitude  that  rose 
From  all  the  mother-hearts  of  all  the  world. 
"Shall  it  be  Peace  or  War?"— 

Once  more  the  voice,— 
"To  one  man  is  it  given  to  decide, 
Thou  art  the  Man  !  The  scales  are  in  Thy 
hand. 


120  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Think  well,  and  say,— Shall  it  be  Peace  or 

War? 
As  thou  shalt  say  so  shall  it  be  with  thee." 
But,  ere  the  answer  came,  all  vanished  like 
A  scrap  of  paper  in  a  fire  of  coals. 
Then,  with  a  crackling  peal,  the  thick  black 

vail 
That  hangs  before  the  face  of  men  was  rent, 
And  in  the  instant  lightning  flash  I  saw,— 

A  chamber  hung  with  black  and  heaped  with 

flowers, 
Where  candles  tall  flashed  white  on  watchers' 

swords. 
High  on  a  high-raised  bier  lay  one  at  rest- 
Crosses  and  orders  on  his  quiet  breast, 
Head  proudly  cushioned  on  his  country's  flag, 
Hands  calmly  folded  on  his  helmet's  crest, 
His  back  to  earth,  his  mute  face  turned  to 

heaven,— 
Answering  the  summons  of  his  Over-Lord. 
I  strained  my  eyes  upon  his  face  to  learn 
Thereon    his    answer.      But    the    dark    vail 

dropped, 
And  left  me  wondering  what  his  word  had 

been. 
Had  I  but  read  his  face  I  should  have  known 
Who  lay  there.— Man,  like  other  men?     Or 

one 
Who  grasped  the  greater  things,  and  by  his  will 
Brought   Peace   on   Earth   and   drewr   Earth 

nearer  Heaven. 


BEES  IN  AMBER  121 

The  bells  beat  softly  on  the  midnight  air 
Proclaiming  the  New  Time  ?  Shall  it  be  Peace  ? 
A  voice  within  me  cried  and  would  not  cease, 
"One  man  could  do  it  if  he  would  but  dare." 


Your  Place 

Is  your  place  a  small  place? 
Tend   it   with    care!— 

He  set  you  there. 

Is  your  place  a  large  place  ? 
Guard  it  with  care!— 

He  set  you  there. 

Whatever  your  place,  it  is 

Not  yours  alone,  but  His 
Who  set  you  there. 


In  Narrow  Ways 

Some  lives  are  set  ir  narrow  ways, 

By  Love's  wise  tenderness. 

They  seem  to  suffer  all  their  days 

Life's  direst  storm  and  stress. 

But  God  shall  raise  them  up  at  length, 

His  purposes  are  sure, 

He  for  their  weakness  shall  give  strength, 

For  every  ill  a  cure. 


122  BEES  IN  AMBER 


Shut  Windows 

(For  the  Braille  Magazine) 

When    the    outer    eye    grows    dim, 
Turns  the  inner  eye  to  Him, 

Who  makes  darkness  light. 
Fairer  visions  you  may  see, 
Live  in  nobler  company, 
And  in  larger  liberty, 

Than  the  men  of  sight. 

He  sometimes  shuts  the  windows  but  to  open 

hidden  doors, 
Where  all  who  will  may  wander  bold  and  free, 
For  His  house  has  many  mansions,  and  the 

mansions  many  floors, 
And  every  room  is  free  to  you  and  me. 


Props 

Earthly  props  are  useless, 

On  Thy  grace  I  fall; 
Earthly  strength  is  weakness, 

Father,  on  Thee  I  call,— 

For  comfort,  strength,  and  guidance, 

0,  give  me  all ! 


BEES  IN  AMBER  123 

Bed-Rock 

I  have  been  tried, 

Tried  in  the  fire, 

And  I  say  this, 

As  the  result  of  dire  distress, 

And  tribulation  sore— 

That  a  man's  happiness  doth  not  consist 

Of  that  he  hath,  but  of  the  faith 

And  trust  in  God's  great  love 

These  bring  him  to. 

Nought  else  is  worth  consideration. 

For  the  peace  a  man  may  find 

In  perfect  trust  in  God 

Outweighs  all  else,  and  is 

The  only  possible  foundation 

For  true  happiness. 


After  Work 

Lord,  when  Thou  seest  that  my  work  is  done, 

Let  me  not  linger  on, 

AVith  failing  powers, 

Adown  the  weary  hours,— 

A  workless  worker  in  a  world  of  work. 

But,  with  a  word, 

Just  bid  me  home, 

And  I  will  come 

Right  gladly,— 

Yea,  right  gladly 

Will  I  come. 


124  BEES  IN  AMBER 

Kapiolani  in  Rarotongan 

Mr.  F.  W.  Christian,  of  the  Polynesian 
Society  of  New  Zealand,  whose  personal 
acquaintance  with  the  South  Sea  Islands  and 
their  dialects  is  unique,  is  translating 
"Kapiolani"  into  Rarotongan.     He  writes— 

"I  enclose  a  four-line  stanza  which, 
translating  your  first  line— '  Where  the  great 
green  combers  break/  etc.— strictly  according 
to  East  Polynesian  ballad-metres,  ushers  in 
your  great  theme. 

"  '  Kapiolani '  will,  I  trust,  God  willing, 
become  a  household  classic  in  many  of  the 
Eastern  Islands,  such  as  Rapa  and  Manahiki, 
where  the  Rarotongan  language  runs  current 
as  a  sort  of  Lingua  Franca  or  Sacred  Esper- 
anto, thanks  to  the  magnificent  translation  of 
the  Bible  by  the  great  missionary,  John 
Williams.  I  have  translated  the  poem  most 
carefully,  and  as  accurately  as  possible  into 
the  peculiar  metre  and  cast  of  expression 
which  an  Eastern  Polynesian  'Atu-Pe'e,  or 
Versifier,  would  immediately  grasp  as 
idiomatic.     The  first  lines  run  thus:— 

Tei   te    ngai    mangungu— anga   no   te    au 

ngaru  roro'a 
Ki  rtinga  no  te  punga  matoato'a 
Ngaru  kerekere,  ngaru  mamaata  e  tini 
Ki  rtinga  no  te  'Akau-Pipini. 


